Best route to get early XP w/out having to mess around in Hommlet?

I haven't played in a while and I know you guys constantly add new content, so is there anything post welkwood bog that I can do before the Moathouse? I cannot stand spending any time in Hommlet whatsoever.

 

Nothing new in the NC aside from Welkwood Bog- if you hate the Hommlett quests at least do Deklo Woods (solving that allows you to buy masterwork bows & crossbows) and Emridy Meadows- which, depending on your alignment, you might be able to start w/o talking to Terjon.