teleport under the knights mystical lance of a thousand points and then insert nomad saber. Or a buy pike/long-spear/bamboo spear. The first two options will force you to keep your shield on your back, and give you a reason to learn how to block to some degree. 1handers get the short end of the stick most of the time in this game, so use the advantage of only taking up two slots with your gear most of the time and grab a pike or crossbow or throwing weapon to supplement your arsenal. The true advantage of 1hander isn't always speed, its versatility.
By the way, the longer spear-typed polearms and lighter crossbows can still be used medium-effectively without a proficiency investment.
I hope this helps somewhat. I know the solution of (STOP BEING A 1HANDER AND USE SOMETHING ELSE) is not always appealing, but its some times nessisary to get the job done.
