The notorious serial arsonist, Smogh the Dragon, was slain today outside the burning village of Wickenshire by a brave knight who was seemingly impervious to Smogh’s mighty blasts. Smogh is believed to be responsible for setting ablaze at least seven towns in the past four months. The epic battle took place at noon on the field of Allendale, which lies three furlongs south of Wickenshire. The valiant slayer, known only as the Knight of the Black Swan, was clad in a hitherto unknown type of armor, which he credits with his success in the field.

Local farmer, Allen Dale, was an eyewitness to the battle and gave the following account to our reporter. “‘Twas like nothin’ I ever seen,” he said. “There I was, tendin’ to the taters when the two of them faced off in me barley field. Eyeball to eyeball they was, just starin’ at each other like two roosters in a yard full of hens when fire just exploded from old Smogh. I thought that fool knight was a goner for sure but after the smoke cleared, there he stood, cool as a mountain stream in spring. Then, without blinkin’ an eye, he drew his sword and smote Old Smogh with one single blow. Took his head clean off, he did. If you ask me, Smogh didn’t deserve to be kilt like that. He never bothered us honest farmers. Rat infested towns is all he ever burned. Regular Sodom and Gomorrahs they are, right fitten for destruction by fire."

We asked the brave knight how he was able to withstand the heat of Smogh’s foul breath. Through fits of coughing, he credited his success to a new material, asbestos, imported from the Rhine Valley. He claims that wearing this material under their armor will enable him and other knights to wipe out all the dragons in Christendom within ten years.