Best one-handed sword is Myrthos, but if you picked Hermosa you have to give it up. When I dual-wielded, I used Laiken's word until the end... along with a weapon from the end of Bellegar's Dungeon of moral choices.
Mage, imo, is more fun. I entered the sigil mine at level 33 and all those level 27 black ring fighters couldn't even hurt me... and I cleared entire rooms with one fireball.
