Simply clean out the starters area in terms of dungeons. if you see a dungeon on your map, enter it. and kill everything in it.
Nets good XP, and you'll get your first item set that way. (Plate/Rogue/Robe)
Also, bears are quite easy. Simply slash. walk backwards, slash again. walk backwards.. etc.. try to dodge its strikes. I have heavy armour and still manage to dodge most attacks, if your a mage or rogue character dodging should be a piece of cake.
