Very New to Game, is this a sound course?

[Vynd]

I don't know much about C'Tis and its Marshmasters. So I can't judge how practical it is to empower one up to 5 nature and do all that research. It sounds awfully expensive, but if you can do it in a reasonable timeframe (you already ahve lots of gems, nearly there in research, etc.) then I think your plan will work. You could also try the Enchantment Gift of Health, which is only Level 5 but not as reliable.

If all this is going to take forever to do, however, you might want to consider deliberately getting your Pretender killed, and then bringing him back. Some of the afflictions, if not all of them, should go away when he is restored to life.