Walkthrough/Game Start
Chapel of Anticipation
Welcome to Elden Ring.
You start inside a chapel; to the right there is a corpse of a Finger Maiden. In front of her, an uplifting message and your very first loot: the Tarnished's Wizened Finger (this item lets you write messages on the ground that other players online can see). As you have seen, glowing orbs on the ground contain items; you will find plenty of these throughout the game.
As you go out of the chapel, turn to the left and drop down. Across the bridge and you will find your first enemy. To progress, you are supposed to die since the enemy is over leveled. (If you somehow beat it, easiest with the Samurai's bow, a nearby cliff has a trap that will kill you too). You can return here later via one of the portals at the The Four Belfries.
Cave of Knowledge
After you die you will get another cutscene.
As you wake up yet again, this time somewhere underground, you are supposed to go forward and then jump down into the hole on to the right - The Cave of Knowledge (there is even a stranded soul urging you to jump if you talk to it.
If you are completely new to the series, this place is the tutorial and will teach you the basics. At the end of the cave, you also get the Strength! gesture as a reward.
After doing the Cave of Knowledge, go forward. You will find another grace and two items nearby: the Finger Severer and the Tarnished's Furled Finger, both items used for online play.
You will see a fogged wall that can be unlocked by interacting with the nearby imps if you have two Stonesword Keys (you won't have two right now unless you selected them as a Keepsake during Character Creation but you will eventually find many throughout the game). Behind that door is a dungeon that you are supposed to tackle way later, when you are stronger. For now, go to the lift at the end of the room until you get outside.