OK - update.
If you die above Floor 1 of TOFS, you have to get someone with a key to help you back up into the Tower.
I was lucky and ran into a couple fellows who were heading inside while I finished my CR.
[You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]
Killed this fucker near the zone out on Floor two. He was a warrior who had a DS and a Damage Absorb on - WTF? The only mob nearby was a necro.
I scoped outside of TOFS and came across a gnoll camp. I killed some perimeter guards and was thinking "wow Velious is cool cause you can get good xp while moving between zones", then I aggroed 3 gnolls near the center of camp and one of them hit me for 280 damage in 2 swings and I died again.
NOT LEAVING CRYSTAL CAVERNS AGAIN FOR A WHILE.