Ive played through many times. I don't care what people say, you have a mind flayer tadpole in your head. That's urgent.
So let me get this straight, if you had a tadpole in your head and people telling you your flesh will shed off, youd casually stroll about searching every little crack?
And the story tells you quite clearly that the tadpole in your head is not "normal", and there are several other "True Souls" that you encounter in the game that have had tadpoles in their heads for much longer than you, who have not succumbed to cremorphosis. So that should tell you that the sense of impending doom that is portrayed in the first few minutes of the game, is somewhat overblown.
Did you actually complete Omeluum's quest?
Omeluum is a LONG way into the game. And he's the only person that says anything to suggest with any viability that you don't need to worry about turning if you take to long. Other people say it's happening slower, but that doesn't mean anything. At any point the next hour could still be the hour it happens. No matter how many days have passed already, the next night is still liable to be the one where you turn. Only the line where "it's not happening at all" matters.
By all logic, with what is currently in the game, the PC and companions should not willingly take a long rest until after they stumble on Omeluum, and he examines you.
And since you have no foreknowledge he's hangin around in the Underdark, there's no basis for seeking him out.
Which would mean the first time it makes sense to long rest, after meeting him, would be:
-after saving the Grove from the initial goblin attack, since that happens in your face and in your way.
-after saving the Grove in the larger sense by saving Halsin, because there was an alleged chance he could help you.
-after dealing with all the Goblin leaders to help the tiefling refugees, because that's in the same place as Halsin, and you need to help them before the ritual completes.
-after seeking help from the Gith patrol [which is hands down the first thing you should as soon as you get Lae'Zel out of the cage. Doing anything other than going from the cage, to the dude in the grove, to the patrol, all in one, is cannonically ridiculous. The devs should expect players to be meeting the patrol at level 1 or 2, so it's outright ridiculous that they, of all people, are level 5.]
-and after any of the many things on the surface you encounter on your way to and from all of that before finding an underdark entrance
Meanwhile some players have let two months pass before meeting Omeluum and learning the tadpole isn't as time sensitive as they thought because they go to sleep every 30 seconds after getting papercuts.
