did you wait until the maelstrom began or ended?
I was just playing and doing another stuff, then press ‘M’ (open the map), saw red maelstrom circle and decided to try obtain star metal. Fought around a bit inside maelstrom, get to that rock and waited until maelstrom ended. No danger actually, just run to safe place and avoid monsters.
Got only 5 nodes before running out of space.
I brought my horse and thrall with me and shared with them all the hardships, filled with ore each free inventory slot 
They just teleported to that rock btw and stayed with me in safety.
Also, how did you mark your post as a solution? I’ve been saying this, although perhaps not so clearly, since a previous thread of the same topic. I didn’t think anyone was listening.
Yea, I was inspired including your post, just marked my post only because of bit more details and all of them I tested personally. There is a button ‘Solution’ under any post, including your own. Actually I would implement possibility to mark several posts as solutions, but now I can mark only one( In my opinion all replies here are solutions.