Originally posted by ✪ Real Badman:

Had him 3 km northeast. I already discovered mistlands and deepnorth before even beating the elder in my new playthrough. This game is sometimes something else.

I think you're misunderstanding something, perhaps.

Trader has many different -possible- spawning points ALL over the map.

However, the first spot that your character gets within a certain distance of(its a bit beyond actual render distance), that then -locks in- the spot for haldor for the entire map.

There is no 1km radius from start limit thus in where he will be potentially found.