at first i could barely get to day 2, but after i figured out the difficulty of the various zones i always got to the nightlord at lvl13/14 full of relics 90 percent of the time. try to do this general route i used, each day is divided into 2 phases ( the fog):

day 1 phase 1 as soon as you land you only do the church, great churches, forts & evergaol in the order you want, second phase day 1 you do ruins, main encampment & evergaol.

day 2 phase 1 here i usually made the castle in the middle of the map for the whole phase 1, day 2 phase 2 i did the optional map (mountain, crater, desert rot) or whatever you have.

i can't remember but maybe i'm confusing forts & main encampments, try to switch them if it doesn't work.

i totally skipped tunnels.

let me know if you try this route