Can I not get Leina if I did not do the IWD portion of NEJ? I went through the dungeon, got Melora, got the request to find Leina, went upstairs, now I can't leave! Is this because I do not have Hrothgar? Speaking of, do I have to activate the move to IWD right after the intro, or can I go through Irenicus dungeon, turn around at the end, and start NEJ?

Ok I'll take a try at an answer for you.
First what do you have installed?
If you have NEJ2 v4.2b installed you can not leave the first level of IC without going to IWD. If you don't get Hrothgar then there is no reason to be playing the mod because he is the main charater you need for the quest of this mod. Without him none of the other quests are activated.

Yep, sounds like the answer. Nuts. OK thanks!