ouch ive never had to do it from that far apart

okay if your going to raise the just keep two playable characters and one low character in the party. if you've got an embroder tippet you weak characters should have enough lp to get the licence for it.
as for equiping and protection: give them the best armor they can wear and a ranged weapon or something that increases their evasion. make them damn hard to hit set them to constantly heal give them protect and shell. if they keep dying move somewhere easier like a mine. make the low characters your main and go skeleton killing lsuhu mines or chaining wolves in the estersand. other than that just work at it