From counting my hit scores he has a lot of hit points and smacks big time with a big bonus. He's probably a high level NPC so you should avoid him. I have beaten him but it took one death and a couple of healing potions.
Level 6? How did you manage to hold off from doing assignments before you reach level 6? When you say ask them you mean like in the tavern or directly? I thought we could not directly ask about how to win the game because its cheating / not allowed.
This issue seems to come up every now and again. Here is what I have said about it in the past and through the Tips page:
1. The story itself hints how difficult a task will be. In real life no one will say "Make sure you are level 'x' and have this or that before you take up this challenge." It is up to you to weigh the possibility of what might happen.
2. Ruler of Kings is your story, if you think the text did not give enough clues about the challenge then you can submit additional text to clarify for other Players so they can decide if to take up the Assignment or not. The benefit of doing that builds comradery among Players allowing a greater chance that they may in turn help you out at some point with their submitted text.
The saying pick your battles is very true in this game. Once you understand that you will live long but if you try to take on things that aren't presented to you then you can fall easily. Get the atonement ritual and don't take that assignment again, at least not anytime soon.