You can go to leafshade the moment you start, if you so choose. All towns and harvesting areas are immediately available upon character completion. It's how I farm ironwood to pay my debts until the last one of 7500. You merely click travels, then forests. It's right there the first option. So whilst farming ironwood, you make enough to pay for any tools/food/accessories/weapons/armour you need whilst simultaneously paying your debts and also levelling your physics. (The curled arm symbol) Then when all dents are paid, you can either return after getting getting enough ironwood and rough wood to make one at home, or keep going while simultaneously searching for slaves, which you can either use for guild quests or for factor upgrades via the slave merchant.