[Bungleau]

bsftcs has given you the good response. I'd add only one thing, on the loss of hit points... if you equip an item with regeneration abilities, its gain of hit points will cancel out the loss of hit points from the curse. So you can use cursed items and not pay the ultimate price.

Unfortunately, my mind has gone completely blank, and I can't remember any standard items with regeneration ability (amulet of life, perhaps?). But I am pretty sure there are some. If not, you can bless them.