How am I supposed to do to avoid being wounded? What purpose do wounds serve?
This is explained well in the manual:
The state of your physical health is described in two ways:
(1) Hit Points (HP)
This represents minor wounds like bruises and sprains, and also general combat morale, fatigue, stance, etc. If your HP reaches 0, it means you received a killing blow, or the circumstances are such that you can no longer fight back (you are fallen, pinned or exhausted). Hit Points usually regenerates automatically over time.
(2) Wounds
This represents more serious long-term damage, and is shown as a property at the bottom of the screen. Wounds are received when you take a high amount of damage in one hit. Each wound reduces your fighting abilities and HP regeneration rate. If you have more than four wounds, you are dead.
There is an item called a "Medical Bag", which has a certain number of "supplies". It can be used in the following ways:
* Sanitize infection
When bitten or clawed by certain monsters, you can become infected. Use this option to handle the infection before it becomes a disease.
* Take morphine
This is used as a painkiller, and will restore your Hit Points. It is not good for the mind however.
* Treat wound
This will heal a wound, although it requires many uninterrupted turns, and drains many supplies.