Many items are purely randomly placed. If you play the game a second or third time, you'll find different things - if any. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />
Also, remember that the more you travel from Aleroth away, the stronger the oppenents become. This as a general rule.
It seems to me as if you've travelled too fast into too difficult areas.
