The European campaign was a long, bloody slog, even for our hardened veterans of Badon Hill. The new year found Sir Hervis and Sir Carabad mourning their dead comrades and preparing for the final push into Rome. As in all wars, the knights spent months marching through the wilderness in search of several hours of furious battle. The campaign of 527 AD was no different. Sir Hervis relentlessly drilled the Rus mercenaries attached to his battalion while Sir Carabad spent his evenings drinking with Boris, the Bear of Novgorod, and teaching the younger knights some harsh lessons in knightly virtue.
In July, as the army marched through the Alps towards Milan, Sir Gawaine returned to camp with a Saracen, Sir Priamus, who warned of a Roman ambush in the next pass. Battle ensued and our knights distinguished themselves with much glory.
Their emperor dead and their armies shattered, the remaining lords of Rome surrendered unconditionally. Arthur was the new Holy Roman Emperor.
Sir Carabad, Sir Hervis, and Sir Priamus visited the Pope, who expressed great interest in their stories of the Holy Grail. Carabad was sequestered to have the tale transcribed while Sir Hervis and Sir Priamus the Saracen were baptized by the Holy Father himself.
A grand tournament was held to celebrate the end of the war. Knights and kings from throughout the Mediterranean attended. Sir Carabad distinguished himself in the joust. Feeling fat and sassy, he challenged Sir Gawaine to single combat to settle their differences from the previous year. Carabad was soundly thrashed by the Lord of the Orkneys, which drove him insane. He surrendered his sword and armor to a beggar and became the Pope's manservant.
Sir Hervis was quite distraught, but he had grown accustomed to Sir Carabad's erratic behavior over the years, so he enrolled in the melee and told King Arthur about a really great fountain. The following spring, he returned to Britain accompanied by Sir Priamus the Saracen and his man Boris. And there was much rejoicing.