Hello, fellow rebels!
In this guide, I will introduce you to the basics of Absolum, so you can start your adventure right in the war-torn lands of Talamh.

The world of Talamh was irreparably changed 18 years ago, with the Cataclysm of Yeldrim throwing into question the longstanding traditions of the Root Sisters and their magic Rituals.
Azra the Conqueror proclaimed that magic must be outlawed and, along with his loyal and faceless followers of the Crimson Order, imposed his iron will upon the various tribes of the lands.
He imprisoned and slaughtered many - the wizards and their allies, the mowlaï race, and the Root Sisters.
After many years of bloody war, few still dare to challenge the drastic rule of the Sun King of Asterios.
Nowadays, Azra and his Crimson Order are the only sanctioned holders of magic, and use their power to demand tribute from every corner of Talamh.
Asterios grows bigger and richer every day, while the villages starve, while the forests shrink, while the mines are emptied, while the mowlaï go extinct.

The last hope lies in the few souls that escaped death. Galandra, her sword hungry for revenge; Karl, his people lost to madness; Cider, shattered in both body and mind; Brome, molded by hatred since birth. They are the last arm of the Root Sisters - the last hope of Mother Uchawi and her allies. They are the rebellion.

The Sun King must die. This is your mission.

As a fighter, you have many options on the battlefield. Familiarize yourself with them.

You can walk around freely. Double-tapping right or left will allow you to run, and double-tapping up or down will allow you to dodge. You can also press the Dash button to dash forward, or to dodge up or down if you hold these directions. Holding the Dash button will allow you to run without double-tapping a direction.
You have a Jump button as well, that allows you to jump, of course.

The Strike button allows you to attack your foes swiftly. Pressing it multiple times allows you to chain attacks into a short combo. Learn the range of your Strike and you'll know how to position yourself around enemies effectively. You can turn around for each Strike of your combo as well, allowing you to hit an enemy that's trying to flank you.
Pressing the Strike button while you run will execute a powerful running attack.
You can Strike enemies while in the air, too, for instance after a jump, chaining multiple air attacks in a row.

The Skill button is a slower, heavier attack that deals more damage. If you hit your target with any Strike, you can chain it into a Skill by pressing the button immediately. Experiment with different ways to chain Strikes into Skills, but don't hesitate to use a Skill on its own as well if the timing is right.
You can chain an air Strike into an air Skill as well.

Dashing in the direction of an attack allows you to Deflect it. It's important to learn this for defense. Another important thing to note is that you can cancel out of a Strike or a Skill with a Dash - which means you can swap from offense to defense in a flash!
You can also cancel out of a Strike or a Skill with a dodge up or down, or by running.

Finally, Arcanas are powerful magic skills that can lay ruin upon your adversaries. You'll need Mana to cast them, which generates as you hit enemies. Arcana are great offensively and can be chained into from any Strike or Skill, even in the air. They are also a powerful defensive tool, as most of them will offer you a moment of invincibility to go through an enemy's attack.

These are just the basics - there is much and more to learn. An ally will soon join your side to teach you more advanced applications of your Skills, and other techniques that will make you a formidable fighter.

You will often find yourself in Uchawi's Hearth, the last sanctuary for wizards in Grandery. Familiarize yourself with the layout of the place, and make sure to search every nook and cranny. You'll want to talk with your fellow rebels as well: they have a lot to teach you!

The Tree of Talamh is where you will spend Crystals to strengthen yourself. New tiers of upgrades will unlock as you purchase the available ones. Carefully read through the effects of each one, as they will allow you to shore up your weaknesses, or unlock unique effects.

Ederig is a veteran of combat and will teach you many new techniques in exchange for certain items. He is knowledgeable about the world as it was before the War, and how Azra's tyranny changed it so terribly.

Your Siblings will rest around the campfire. If they have a bubble above their head, they may wish to converse with you. Interracting with the campfire itself allows you to change which character you control - even if you have a favourite, I recommend you often change characters, at least to check if your Siblings have new things to talk about.

To the East, a shining Root will guide you towards the exit - towards Grandery and its forests. Make sure you're prepared and go out to brave the world.

There are more areas around the Hearth. Make sure to poke around again after you've travelled for a while.

After you exit the Hearth, you will find yourself at the edge of the great forests of Grandery. Mother Uchawi will offer you a random choice of Rituals to gain power for the long journey ahead, so make sure to pick the one that you find most interesting.

Thanks to a new ally's gift, you will soon figure out how big Grandery is. Look for the paths ahead, and tread them bravely! Foes will stand in your way, and each one has a different way they like to fight. Be observant, and you'll learn to identify their attacks, their patterns. Defend against their blows, jump over their swings, and strike when they're defenseless.

Some animals are used as mounts - they are strong, and fast. Watch out for soldiers riding to battle, and dismount them to take their steed for yourself. Each one behaves differently when you press the Strike and Skill buttons, and they'll be an asset for battle and travel both.

You'll sometimes find throwable weapons on the ground. Don't underestimate them - throwing daggers and axes are very powerful, and even a simple rock can prove useful! Attacking from a distance is safer than going up-close, which is great against enemies that don't flinch againt your blows or if you have trouble anticipating their attacks. Throwable weapons can also quickly cause an armored enemy to stagger, or damage an opponent's shield, opening them up to more punishment.

When the fight is done, make sure to look for containers to break open, leaf piles to kick away, or tall grass to cut down. If luck is on your side, you could find gold, relics, or even food to regain your spent strength!

You'll find sparkle-like flames in various spots as well. Interact with them to hear Mother Uchawi's voice. Though she'll mostly tell you about the history of Talamh, she will occasionally offer hints that might help you figure out some secrets.

Speaking of secrets - there are many. If you see a black, one-eyed, rabbit-like creature as you enter a new area, be on the lookout for hidden passages, barriers to destroy, contraptions to activate, and more. Treasure awaits you, and I don't just mean the kind that sits in chests.

Chances are, your foes may kill you before you reach the end of your journey. When that happens, and Uchawi brings you back to life, don't forget to plan your journey ahead. You could pick differents paths, and test your mettle against new foes, but you could revisit regions you've explored already - new details and secrets may reveal themselves to you, and chance meetings are just around the corner of the beaten path.

The people of Talamh need you, whether they realize it or not. Go boldly forward, attack aggressively, and don't let up the pressure on Azra and the Crimson Order. Failure is temporary, every death a step towards the Sun King. You will learn and improve, strengthened by the essence of the land itself. Let the hopes of the rebellion drive you towards your ultimate victory!