Also in the third level of the Spine, totally separate 
from the main path, is the place where the Dark Sword was 
forged.  Directions to get here are in Part 2 of the Spine 
Walkthrough.  

To get the Dark Sword, ask the priest in Keptus about
"troubled" or "souls."  He will tell you about a soldier
named Barak.  Barak can be found in the inn close to the
temple.  Ask him about "sword", and listen to his story.
He will reveal a cave in the mountains to the east of
Briggston.  Go there, defeat a few monsters, and get the
sword.

The sword is a nice weapon, but carry it for a while and it
will begin to affect you in increasingly nasty ways.  You
can drop it, and the effects will eventually fade, or you
can destroy it permanently.

Hints on its destruction can be found in the Archives in
Keptus.  First you must pray at two of three altars, all
hidden behind sometimes very long secret passages.  The
easiest to find are in the Dark Sword's cave, and in the
second level of the Spine.  The third is well-hidden in
the Drake's cave on the island ... hats off to you if you
can find it.

Once this is done, turn right after the gem puzzle in the
Spine, and follow the path around the volcano and to the
river of lava.  Pass over the lava using Firewalk, and find
the temple at the end.  If you held the sword for long
enough, this was the place in your dreams.  Resist any ideas
of praying at the altar.  Place the sword on the lone spot of 
lava at (53,49), and cast the Ritual Of Sanctification spell
on the altar.  Defeat the Hakaii that appears, and the sword
has been destroyed.