(I am now in a rush to test as many games as possible to help, so please do not mind the cursory reviewing style.)

controls are QWERTY-only instead of layout-independent, BUT arrow keys are enabled

clever to animate the simple hand-drawn pictures!
Tip: you can sometimes achieve this kind of effect using shaders (depending on the context); I made an aquatic-themed game/prototype (Breathe Heart) where I used constantly a distorsion shader, and I realized this gave life to everything! :) Spares you some animation.

like the effort for the backstory

small misspelling: ‘Aggresive’

The Pawn warchief still had his selection arrow operate one last choice when he reached -5 in HP (and was thus already defeated)

bug: pressing the movement keys during combat has the whole interface moving

Question: you say on the game page that there is ‘one hidden half broken boss’; where is he? :)

My assessment: as you say yourself, the game is far from finished, this is an early prototype. I still think you managed an interesting graphic style through your use of ‘static’ animations; I agree with znart about the lack of sound (including to better get what is happening during combat). As for the die mechanic, it feels a bit classic to my taste (= adding an element of randomness to how characteristics operate). Still, congratulations on having your own story that sets the world and its past, my imagination got working and I was hoping to see more; I am sure you can build upon it. :)

On the game page:

pls comment below on things you'd like to see added.

You know, at this point, there are many things to be added, I think. XD How about some NPC(s) with some dialogue, since you may have a taste for narration? :)