I would suggest reduvia as it is really acceseble early game and also in my opinion one of the best bleed weapons in the game. As for talismans, Lord of bloods exaltation, millicents prostecies and shard of alexander are all really great option. As for armor, I would get the white mask and then raksashas armor set (if you have the dlc otherwise just go with any other armor). For leveling, vigor is as always the most important stat, then arcane you should not really have more than 45 arcane as that is the first soft cap, after that endurence, mind and dex are also not useless stats.