I've have returned but..

[Atoli]

Check in your journal which MSQ you did last and then use google to figure out where the next quest starts. As always, MSQ will lead you to most content and further progress (except for a few optional ones that can wait). It will also lead you all the way to the beginning of Heavensward. If you want to start gaining exp now, buy HW right off the bat as lvl 50 quests will give you experience points too^^

If you have no idea about the story anymore, the inn room is your friend, use the book there to rewatch a few cutscenes from the MSQ to jumpstart your memory again

In terms of gear: the lvl 50 relic quest has been greatly nerfed, so if you are already very far (I don't remember which stage was zodiac stage), finishing it won't take too long. If you aren't, check out the ilvl 120 gear in Mor Dhona that can be upgraded to ilvl 130 with poetics. If you have a bunch of gil/crafters leveled instead, there are ilvl 115 items now that you can craft/buy. Both hold up several levels into HW, at which point you will gain lots of new gear from both quests and dungeons, so don't worry about your gear too much

If you don't remember how to play Scholar at 50, run a few low level instances first to get the feeling back before you hop back into lvl 50 content. Don't worry, there is no need to completely restart from the beginning