History Main / ShroudedInMyth

* Train Heartnet from ''BlackCat'' has a rather legendary status of having been the strongest member of [[NebulousEvilOrganization Chronos]] and being an extremely competent and strong [[BountyHunter sweeper]]. Criminals were shown cowering in fear and immediately surrendering to an imposter when said imposter showed them his fake ''[[TattooedCrook XIII]]'' tattoo and claimed he was the Black Cat.

* This trope is played with in ''TheGunfighter'', as that film presents the reputation of being "the fastest draw in the West" as a huge burden, [[spoiler:to the point where the hero basically curses his killer with it at the end]].

* In the [[WarGod Bahzell]] series quite a few mentions are made of the fall of an ancient civilisation called Kontovar, and how Wencit of Rum was the last white mage who helped people survive. Then they meet him, and he proves that yes, being an ancient wyldmage does make him a badass.

* In the very first game's instruction manual, ''{{Metroid}}''[='=]s Samus Aran is described as being "shrouded in mystery", supernaturally skilled and NighInvulnerable thanks to a plethora of cybernetic upgrades, encased in a suit of PoweredArmor that's the terror of every law-breaker in the galaxy, and with his, her or its true form known to no one. [[YouShouldKnowThisAlready Of course]], when the armor finally comes off at the end of the game, the galaxy's most famous BadAss turns out to be [[SamusIsAGirl a rather attractive blonde woman]].

* Some of the player characters receive this treatment in the ''AceCombat'' games, such as Wardog Squadron from ''Unsung War'' who are seen as an incarnation of a legendary demon, as well as Galm One "Demon Lord of the Round Table" Cipher from ''Belkan War'', whose existence the narrator initially doubts. It receives some LampshadeHanging in ''Skies of Deception'', where two Leasath chairforcers disparage him while he's in a [[IAmNotLeftHanded Left Handed]] situation for seemingly not living up to the rumours.

''*cough* *cough* I can't see a thing in all this myth!''

* Uchiha Sasuke from Naruto is sometimes given credit for things he didn't do, foreign ninja believe that he [[killed Deidara and Zabuza]] when in reality [[Deidara blew himself up, and Zabuza sacrificed himself]]
** Although [[Deidara only did this after Sasuke had defeated him]]
** He wasn't even [[conscious when Zabuza died]]

When a parent is Shrouded In Myth, the child's reaction is often TellMeAboutMyFather. When people don't want him to TurnOutLikeHisFather, they tend generally to add only the allure of ForbiddenFruit to him. (And often enough result in AnticlimacticParent.)

* [[LoisMcMasterBujold Lois McMaster Bujold's]] Admiral Count Aral Vorkosigan does not hesitate use his hated (and false) sobriquet as "The Butcher of Komarr" to intimidate people if necessary, justifying this with "Why not? I paid for it." on at least one occasion. Later in life he admits to his son that he has found his murderous reputation "a "mixed damnation". Ironically, he actually has committed murderous crimes--just not the ones he's accused of.

* In BenCounter's {{Warhammer 40000}} SoulDrinkers novel ''Chapter War'', the legends of the Black Chalice -- apparently based on an earlier visit from the SoulDrinkers -- greatly complicate the SoulDrinkers' lives. Especially since the Howling Griffons [[ContrivedCoincidence have]] [[IGaveMyWord sworn]] {{Revenge}} on the Black Chalice. [[spoiler:After considerable deaths, and letting the Orks advance while they fought the SoulDrinkers, the Howling Griffons [[WeCouldHaveAvoidedAllThis learn that they are not those they swore revenge on]].]]

-->''He is a puzzle, wrapped in an enigma, shrouded in riddles, lovingly sprinkled with intrigue, express mailed to Mystery, Alaska, and LOOK OUT BEHIND YOU!''

[[PublicDomainArtifact Objects]], [[AdvancedAncientAcropolis places]], [[ForgottenPhlebotinum pieces of technology]], and magic spells can also be ShroudedInMyth, but the effect is less dramatic.

[[NamedWeapons Objects]], [[AdvancedAncientAcropolis places]], [[ForgottenPhlebotinum pieces of technology]], and magic spells can also be ShroudedInMyth, but the effect is less dramatic.

Objects, places, pieces of technology, and magic spells can also be ShroudedInMyth, but the effect is less dramatic.

Contrast KingInTheMountain, MaliciousSlander.

*** Of course, the truth is pretty impressive: "Sam Vimes [[Discworld/{{Jingo}} once arrested Vetinari for treason]]. Sam Vimes [[Discworld/GuardsGuards once arrested a dragon]]. Sam Vimes [[Discworld/{{Jingo}} stopped a war between nations by arresting two high commands]]. (He's an arresting fellow, Sam Vimes.) Sam Vimes [[Discworld/TheFifthElephant killed a werewolf with his bare hands]], and carries law with him like a lamp. Watchmen across half the continent will say that [[IncorruptiblePurePureness Sam Vimes is as straight as an arrow, can't be corrupted, won't be turned, never took a bribe]]."

** The same for Seiji from MidoriNoHibi thanks to his friend who constantly spreads rumors.
* Papillon from BusouRenkin becomes an urban legend.

* William Munny from ''{{Unforgiven}}''. And by extension, lots of Clint Eastwood's Western roles. The Man With No Name is one of the better-known examples.

* When the Basterds are first introduced, we first see AdolfHitler and his subordinates talking about how the [[RedBaron Bear Jew]] is a {{Golem}}. Hitler is clearly very, very nervous and upset. This is ''Hitler'' we're talking about here.

* The Black Pearl and its crew in PiratesOfTheCaribbean.

* In Lois Lowry's GatheringBlue, the Christian cross is known as "The Worship Object." The citizens of the community bow to it simply because all they know about it is that it was admired in the past, but the knowledge about it has been lost because of [[AfterTheEnd The Ruin.]] This crosses over with FutureImperfect.

* In Patrick Rothfuss's ''TheNameOfTheWind'', as main character Kvothe tells Chronicler about his past he's interrupted by some locals coming into the inn, telling a story about the legendary Kvothe the Kingkiller that is a hilariously exaggerated and embellished retelling of events that Kvothe himself had gone over a few minutes before. They had no clue that the story was really about the [[RetiredBadass unassuming innkeeper]] who's been serving their beer for the past year. As a youth he'd been the one to deliberately start many of the first rumors about himself.

* In PoulAnderson's ''Virgin Planet'', [[LadyLand a planet of women]], isolated by accident, has legends of these marvelous beings, men. A real, flesh-and-blood man appears, and they conclude he's not marvelous enough and must be an alien. Their [[NoHeroToHisValet realizations of their own unreasonableness]] take most of the novel.

** It's pretty clear that the Emperor is, in fact, [[spoiler:G-d]]. Also, [[BigBad Ominor]] was not particularly shrouded in myth.

* In the ''{{Heralds of Valdemar}}'' series, the titular kingdom's legendary badass is Vanyel, the last Herald-Mage, who was said to be capable of leveling cities with his power, and whose HeroicSacrifice destroyed an entire invading army. In the {{prequel}} detailing his life, these myths are seen to be entirely true.

* In TalesOfSymphoniaDawnOfTheNewWorld, [[TalesOfSymphonia Llyod]] [[IdiotHero Irving]] of all people seems like a character ShroudedInMyth to new protagonist Emil, especially since he's described as TheMessiah by all his former allies, but has seemingly turned into a RogueProtagonist at the start of the game, and had murdered Emil's parents before his very eyes. [[spoiler:The truth? [[AWizardDidIt A Decus did it]].]]

*** The truth: James Kilroy was indeed a construction inspector, only he worked at the shipyard in Fall River, Massachusetts. His "Kilroy was here" marks were an attempt to cut down on fraud by rivetters paid piecework rates. Many soldiers travelled to war on Fall River-built ships and it wouldn't have taken all that many of them to pick up on "Kilroy was here" and spread it all over Europe

* The theme for Dos Equis beer's "The Most Interesting Man in the World" ads; unlike the Stigs' myths, these are accompanied with (unrelated) film footage: (TMIMITW leads a group of people in evening dress with burning torches into a cave) [[strike:[[TopGear some say]]]] "He once had an awkward moment, just to see what it felt like." (looking at a map filled with "been there" pins) "He can speak [[EverythingSoundsSexierInFrench French]]..." (a giant owl flies in and lands on his arm) "[[BeyondTheImpossible in Russian.]]"

** King Arthur isn't an English hero anyway. He's a ''British'' hero. There's no doubt that he's not English, but the issue here probably comes from the fact that many people outside of Europe don't understand the distiction between "English" and "British". The only known landmark which is generally linked to Arthur himself is in Cornwall (Tintagel), which is now part of England, but is originally descended from the same Celtic roots as Wales is.
* RobinHood may also have a kernel of truth

* In KennethGrahame's ''TheWindInTheWillows'', after the climax, Badger is used to threaten naughty weasel and stoat children -- which is unjust since he's fond of children.