I think I've done something wrong...can't get quests

I'm only Level 9 and I can't get any more quests except The Honorable General, Rising in the Ranks: First Spear (and I have these both at the same time, which doesn't make a lot of sense to me..?) and Catch of the Day, which is Master Difficulty. I can't get any bounty assignments, nor any quests from any NPCs. I've looked up all the NF quests and gone to find those characters, but either they won't givme the quest, or I can't get to the region. (I don't have access to the Harbor Place or Blacktide Den - the guards won't let me in.)

I can't imagine that I have to grind my way up to level 12; I only get about 12 XP for most of the things I find to kill. I need 175 sunspear points to go up a rank, but the only quests I can find to gain them require going up a rank!

What do you think happened? And what should I do?

(Sorry this is so long!)

Thanks for your time,
J

If i remember correctly, yes. You have to grind to level 12 or sunspear thingy.

Just take bounties from people and kill kill kill.

Should be fast enough.

Okay thanks!

Take bounty at the shrine and kill some stuff. Doesn't take long.

Take the bounty shrines as was said and venture up to Zolons Reach plenty of quests there all around the fishing village

Yeah you are going to run out of things to do even on Istan. Once you hit the mainland you'll be set.