Thanks for the replies!

I logged in earlier today and made another Stagbreaker. That thing is quite useful. My plan was to attack immediately upon exiting the portal. It worked. I got hit a few times, but all foes were obliterated. I got back to my tombstone and the 1-star drauger was still there. I snuck around him and got 90% of my stuff. I'll go back for the rest later.

I feel better now. Last night I was in shock. I don't know why I did what I did. I am not a brute force character, I am a bow/sneak/scout character. I must curb my predilection for using the axe.

I was in Black Forest for so long, Swamps are going to take some getting used to.