"Do I have any time before the “kick down the door” phase to do any of these actions" YES (you can do the the same things you do after combat ended)
"Can a player ask for help at any point during a combat" YES
"Is there any set sequence that combat breaks down to?" NO (combat and then run away/victory)
"Can you put items in play if you are not able to equip them?" YES (with exceptions)
"If the bribe cost of the floating nose is played does that remove just the floating nose or both monsters from combat."
JUST floating nose, exception
cleric question about resurrection:
YOU can decide when to use resurrection for multiple cards
"The player playing the card would select the hireling being killed correct?"
YES
"If I play it while I have one race card in play am I locked down to being the one race with no disadvantages or can I at a later point still play a second race card?" YOU CAN PLAY A SECOND RACE CARD (and discard it)