[loramin]

In short, you're out of luck because there are no "good" cities anywhere close to the Ogre/Troll cities, which means the only place like what you want (aside from Kunark/Velious) is the Commons area, which is close to both Neriak and Freeport.

But you already said you're tired of that area, so the options I see are:

A) go to somewhere in-between, like Guk (sort of) or Oasis
B) go somewhere convenient for the half-elf, and the dark elf has a long run to sell/bank (you could sell for him to help minimize his runs to town)
C) go to Odus and the Warrens/Stonebrunt; both of you should be able to raise your Paineel faction (the dark elf might already start with some), and the half-elf can already sell/bank in Erudin
D) go somewhere with neutral vendors (eg. centaurs or gypsies in Karana) so the dark elf can sell (but can't bank)
E) wait until your early 20s, go to Kunark, and start killing goblins in Lake of Ill Omen to work on the dark elf's Firiona Vie faction (or pirates in Firiona Vie a few levels later)