You may not get much experience from lower level opponents in the fjords now, but you will not have any problems killing quest related opponents early (they should still drop the relevant quest item, etc). Specifically for Ba'al, you already have the related quest (one of fours parts to the 'Hall of Echoes Bound' quest), received when you defeated Amdusias and picked up the Book of the Dragon. The Note from Maxos is required for one of the other sub quests, and will do something when read in the appropriate spot (which a third sub quests will reveal).
Did you mindread Ba'al?
That gives 2 skill points.
Did you clear down the mountain path in the fjords, as well as the beaches and depleted ore mine, enter the bunker and lower the barrier and anti-dragon shields at the start of the fjords, continue down the path past the mine, which branches down to the harbour and up to High Hall (both of which have additional quests)? There are also several caves, a castle and other things to find in the fjords if you fly around exploring.
For the flying fortresses, they increase in difficulty as you proceed into the fjords, so from easiest to hardest: Stone, Raze, Broken Valley, Keara and then Kali.
The order you explore doesn't matter too much, except if you do difficult areas first you will level faster and may find easier areas too easy.
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