I cannot defeat the bear after hours of trying. It seems like once the quest is started, you cannot stop it and continue with the game?
I quite the game and reload. I am in the open world, but I still have the alternate guide and even though I have quit tracking the quest, I do not get my sparrow back and I cannot do my faction quests to try to get stronger and be able to defeat the bear. The only thing marked on my map is the circle where I can go and fight the bear. No markers for Silent Rose tasks. The summoned guide just hovers next to me.
I am grace based, rank 1 with the Silent Rose, have a level 23 Thistle, a rank 9 Blitzel, or a rank 10 Gwylen. I started with only the starter "armor", but had Forgetfire armor baking and can now use that. Everything else is starter for me. I have 30 Sirin points to use and have a 4 in the circle up next to my name in the top left. I have animals on my weapons, but they are only advanced a couple steps.
The quest up to the bear was quite easy with moderate level mobs. It took me 4-6 tries to beat the pre-boss to advance to the dungeon and then the dungeon mobs were quite easy (low level).
I have had a lot of advice on how to defeat the bear. I know the mechanics, but I cannot do it. It only takes one hit in the second phase to kill me. If I could develop a stronger weapon, and get more armor, I think I could advance. Sometimes I can avoid one round of his arm attacks in the second phase, but I imagine I will have to make it through at least three to complete the quest. I am doing about 70 damage per shot.
I am admittedly a poor player of games like this, but someone has to be in the bottom 20% (or lower). I have to grind more than others to get better equipment to do the same content that others can do with poorer equipment. I am fine with that. I know my limited abilities.
But I seem to be locked into content that I cannot complete and I cannot stop playing.