Main quest not starting?

[MeltedLemonade]

I got my way out of the privateer dungeon and went walking around to towns, my quest log still hasn't changed, so I have no idea what to do or where to go

[fracs]

One to two weeks after escaping from Privateer's Hold you will receive a letter. After the notification appears, check your inventory for this letter.

[MickieLong]

yea the game just throws you in and just do random stuff until you get a letter

[Ginnza]

join the mage guild and do quests

[lonetrav]

Originally posted by Ginnza:

join the mage guild and do quests

I hope you're just promoting the Mages Guild, and not saying it's the only way.
Joining the Mages Guild is NOT required to start (or complete) the main quest.

SPOILER:
About one or two weeks after leaving the starter dungeon your character will receive a notification that someone gave him/her a letter. If you read the letter, you are told to meet someone within a month after having received the letter. If you don't do it, you'll get reminders, associated with reputation loss ...
What you do between leaving the starter dungeon and receiving the letter is up to you - you can spend the time sleeping or hanging around in pubs, if you want.
The following steps, however, have a level requirement (for example, the next step after the meeting requires level 3).