History Main / DayOldLegend

** This reaches greater extremes with the [[MixAndMatchCritters fossil Pokemon]] in [[VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield Sword and Shield]]. Despite being [[BodyHorror freakish chimeras of poorly assembled body parts of different creatures]] that are very clearly unnatural the Pokédex makes up a history of how they lived in their nonexistent ancient past.

* ''Literature/TheNeverEndingStory'' explores this idea in-depth, as Bastian can create whole worlds from scratch, and they come with their own history and mythology, even if Bastian did not think this up himself.

* A non-literary variant in ''The Warlords of Nin'', where the hero is told tales of the legendary sword Zahligkeer, which he will need to defeat the titular villain. When he asks where to find this sword, he is told that it doesn't yet exist and he needs to make it. Apparently, the legends were in fact prophecies that for some inexplicable reason refer to the sword in the past tense.

Supposedly you first create so-and-so item, let's call it a Fire Sword, five minutes ago. Flavor text will tell of how the sword was used in an ancient battle between wizards 500 years ago. "Five hundred years ago? I made the thing TODAY!"

There are some possibilities here. Perhaps the item was made, then became ExcaliburInTheRust; but Rusty Excalibur [[LegendaryWeapon had its own name and legend]]. Maybe you've merely rediscovered an old formula. Maybe you're not actually crafting a new weapon, but using some sort of SummonMagic to call the item from wherever it's resting. Maybe it'll go back in time after you're done with it and have been used then. Maybe in [[LegacyCharacter this universe items]] can be [[{{Reincarnation}} reincarnated]]. Maybe AnEntrepreneurIsYou, and [[HonestJohnsDealership not a very honest one]] at that. Or maybe the flavor text is describing another sword of the [[AKindOfOne same type and ability]] as the one you just made to give you an idea of what your new blade is capable of.

* ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'' games tend to have elaborate lore for every given Digimon, especially if they're Perfect/Ultimate or above. It often describes them as being part of a powerful organization or having a specific background. Despite this, you can usually get at least one Digimon to that stage through good old-fashioned Digivolution.

** However, the descriptions ''were'' true when they appeared in the prequel, ''VideoGame/{{Chantelise}}''.

* Played straight in ''VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising'' when fusing weapons to get new ones. [[spoiler: This is justified, as all of Pit's weapons are replicas of the originals. Fusing is based on the "serial numbers" the replica's creator puts on each weapon.]]

* Played straight in ''VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising'' when fusing weapons. However, these can also be found in levels, where the legends might be reasonable.

* ''VideoGame/KingdomOfLoathing'' uses to spoof this by giving each class a starting weapon that can be upgraded to an Epic Weapon, then Legendary Epic Weapon, then Ultimate Legendary Epic Weapon, but that was changed recently (now the Epic Weapon is actually a unique weapon found in the tomb of an ancient warrior, rather than being constructed by the player)
** It does still spoof this by having the Accordion Thief's ULEW have a legend about something that hasn't happened yet. "It's even whispered that Shelia the Creeper used it to assassinate the villainous Pope Flaunchett VIII, though it'll be a while before that can be confirmed, since the current Pope of the Kingdom of Loathing is Flaunchett VI."

** And [[{{Deconstruction}} smashed apart]] with the description of [[http://kol.coldfront.net/thekolwiki/index.php/Trusty Trusty.]], the only weapon you're allowed to equip when playing as the Avatar of Boris.

* Averted and played straight in ''VideoGame/DawnOfTheDragons''.

* The ''StarOcean'' games do this a lot. It's possible you're just recreating the item for whatever planet you're on; and the FlavorText is aimed at us, the audience; but still.

* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls''
** The various [[LegendaryWeapon Daedric artifacts]] are a [[JustifiedTrope justified example]], as the [[OurGodsAreDifferent associated deity]] chooses how the artifact manifests in the physical realm. In some cases, this means the item comes into existence right before your eyes, and also justifies the changing appearance and properties of the items throughout the series. For example, in ''Skyrim'', The Savior's Hide armor is made from the skin of a werewolf ''you just slew''. Further, it looks nothing like it did in previous appearances in ''Battlespire'', ''Morrowind'', and ''Oblivion'', and has a different enchantment in each game. (Resist Magic, but at varying strengths, while ''Skyrim'' adds Resist Poison as well.

* Played straight and subverted in ''VideoGame/DarkSouls''. Many weapons you upgrade get the normal treatment, but a few of the truly unique weapons require using [[PoweredByAForsakenChild soul of their owner]] to forge them, implying that you are literally remaking that legend again.

** In terms of actual item crafting, in ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'', the "quality" of a crafted items has several levels depending on your Smithing skill, with the highest being "Legendary". With a high enough Smithing skill, you can forge a brand new weapon or piece of armor, take it to a grindstone or workbench, and make it Legendary. Subverted in that, while the item is literally just seconds old, the "Legendary" label refers to the quality of the weapon, rather than the weapon itself being "legendary".

* ''TheNeverEndingStory'' explores this idea in-depth, as Bastian can create whole worlds from scratch, and they come with their own history and mythology, even if Bastian did not think this up himself.

* A slight example in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim''. Items have several levels depending on the quality, the highest level being "Legendary". So with a high enough smithing skill, you can forge a weapon or piece of armour, then immediately take it to a grindstone or workbench and make it legendary, despite being literally seconds old.
** The various daedric artifacts of the ''[[Franchise/TheElderScrolls Elder Scrolls]]'' series are a [[JustifiedTrope justified example]], as an associated deity chooses how the artifact manifests in the physical realm. The Savior's Hide in Skyrim, for example, is made from the skin of a werewolf you just slew.

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** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', killing a nameless high dragon will let you loot her Fire Gland, which, in turn, can be crafted by a local enchanter into an amulet named Urzara's Tooth. This unlocks a Codex entry, which claims that Urzara's Tooth is a 200-year-old relic of a dragon-worshiping cult.

* ''VideoGame/KingdomOfLoathing'' use to spoof this by giving each class a starting weapon that can be upgraded to an Epic Weapon, then Legendary Epic Weapon, then Ultimate Legendary Epic Weapon, but that was changed recently (now the Epic Weapon is actually a unique weapon found in the tomb of an ancient warrior, rather than being constructed by the player)

** And [[{{Deconstruction}} smashed apart]] with the description of Trusty, the only weapon you're allowed to equip when playing as the Avatar of Boris.

* The ''StarOcean'' games do this a lot. It's possible you're just recreating the item for whatever planet you're on; and the FlavorText is aimed at us, the audience; but still.
** ''VideoGame/InfiniteUndiscovery'' is also guilty of this. Upgraded weapons will have different backstories.
* ''VideoGame/RecettearAnItemShopsTale'': The fire bracelet I made caused the centuries-old desert? Really? As far as the customer is concerned, [[HonestJohnsDealership yes]]. It helps that the seller is a little girl with a big imagination.

* A recurring feature of the ''VideoGame/MightAndMagic'' games is the presence of ores of various qualities which can be brought to craftsmen and used to make equipment. With the best ores, you have a chance of making equipment which is not merely ancient, but unique and legendary. In the sixth game, one of the enchantments which can appear on equipment is the "antique" modifier which multiplies the item's value by ten. By using the Enchant Item on unenchanted items, you may randomly turn them into antiques.
* ''VideoGame/KingdomOfLoathing'' use to spoof this by giving each class a starting weapon that can be upgraded to an Epic Weapon, then Legendary Epic Weapon, then Ultimate Legendary Epic Weapon, but that was changed recently (now the Epic Weapon is actually a unique weapon found in the tomb of an ancient warrior, rather than being constructed by the player)
** It does still spoof this by having the Accordion Thief's ULEW have a legend about something that hasn't happened yet. "It's even whispered that Shelia the Creeper used it to assassinate the villainous Pope Flaunchett VIII, though it'll be a while before that can be confirmed, since the current Pope of the Kingdom of Loathing is Flaunchett VI."
** The pixel whip subverts it: "[[Franchise/{{Castlevania}} This legendary vampire-slaying whip has been in your family for generations.]] No, wait, I'm thinking of a different whip. This one was made out of brown pixels by a crazy guy in a shed in the woods."
** And [[{{Deconstruction}} smashed apart]] with the description of Trusty, the only weapon you're allowed to equip when playing as the Avatar of Boris.
-->''Not every magical weapon is forged of meteorite iron under an unusual planetary conjunction, inscribed with gilded runes of ancient power, and imbued with supernatural strength and sharpness through mystical rites and sorcerous incantations. In truth, many of the most powerful weapons of lore are possessed of far humbler beginnings -- common metal, torn from an enemy's grasp in a dire emergency. If the warrior survives the day, the weapon will likely be kept. Polished, sharpened, and re-sharpened, it will be carried from battle to battle, becoming as much a part of the man as his own arm, and as his name rises from warrior to hero to legend, so too will an aura of reverence and awe begin to surround the blade. Legend and belief are powerful forces, and it should be no surprise that a powerful artifact might have become powerful simply by dint of everyone believing it to be powerful. That is, after all, where the gods came from. ''
* In the ''Franchise/DragonAge'' series:
** PlayedWith in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOriginsAwakening'', where you can have an InfinityPlusOneSword crafted by the UltimateBlacksmith from ancient dragonbone, which immediately gets a Codex entry and even a line in the epilogue--but not because of its ''past'' history, but because of its ''future'' history. In other words, you create a weapon so ridiculously overpowered that the game gives it its own legend as an advance payment.
** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', killing a nameless high dragon will let you loot her Fire Gland, which, in turn, can be crafted by a local enchanter into an amulet named Urzara's Tooth. This unlocks a Codex entry, which claims that Urzara's Tooth is a 200-year-old relic of a dragon-worshiping cult.
* Averted in ''VideoGame/{{Neverwinter Nights}}'', where a weapon or piece of armor made by in-game will have the flavor text describe it being made by the specific blacksmith, in the current year and for the current campaign [[http://www.gamebanshee.com/neverwinternights/equipment/images/runehammerplus1.jpg but in the same style as the "ancient" equipment]] so it feels like the player is crafting their legend for future adventurers as they play the game.
** Played straight in the ExpansionPack ''Hordes of The Underdark''. The game take place only a few months later and you find the über version of those same items, only they have [[{{Retcon}} new backstories]].

* A slight example in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim''. Items have several levels depending on the quality, the highest level being "Legendary". So with a high enough smithing skill, you can forge a weapon or piece of armour, then immediately take it to a grindstone or workbench and make it legendary, despite being literally seconds old.
** The various daedric artifacts of the [[Franchise/TheElderScrolls Elder Scrolls]] series are a [[JustifiedTrope justified example]], as an associated deity chooses how the artifact manifests in the physical realm. The Savior's Hide in Skyrim, for example, is made from the skin of a werewolf you just slew.

* TheNeverEndingStory explores this idea in-depth, as Bastian can create whole worlds from scratch, and they come with their own history and mythology, even if Bastian did not think this up himself.
* Happens to entire ''countries'' in the ''TabletopGame/{{Ravenloft}}'' setting, where new realms that coalesce out of the Mists upon a new darklord's arrival come complete with their own "ancient" legends and histories.

* Played straight in ''VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising'' when fusing weapons. However, these can also be found in levels, where the legends might be reasonable.
* A non-literary variant in ''The Warlords of Nin'', where the hero is told tales of the legendary sword Zahligkeer, which he will need to defeat the titular villain. When he asks where to find this sword, he is told that it doesn't yet exist and he needs to make it. Apparently, the legends were in fact prophecies that for some inexplicable reason refer to the sword in the past tense.
* ''VideoGame/DwarfFortress'' will have engravers start depicting epic events on the walls and precious items of the fortress as soon as the event has happened. Maybe they're just vain. It's even possible, thanks to a particular bug involving sequestered items (ones dwarves can't get to, and don't necessarily realize they can't get to), to have an artifact contain decorations depicting ''[[DrosteImage the artifact itself]]'' (presumably including its decorations...) as well as the event of its completion.

* ''VideoGame/DiabloIII'' has a blacksmith that can make various weapons and armor using plans you find in the world. Some of those items can also be found from [[RandomlyDrops monster drops]], but quite a few cannot. That doesn't stop them from having descriptions like 'forged by demons' attached though. [[WildMassGuessing Maybe he's outsourcing his labor?]]

* Averted in ''{{Drakengard}}'' (where, in both games, weapons reveal their histories as they increase in level) in two ways: one, you don't craft weapons, but instead unlock them, so you're not just making ancient weapons from scratch; and two, the starting weapons of your characters in the second game... have the backstories of their wielders as their histories.

* The ''StarOcean'' games do this a lot. It's possible you're just recreating the item for whatever planet you're on; and the flavor text is aimed at us, the audience; but still.
** ''InfiniteUndiscovery'' is also guilty of this. Upgraded weapons will have different backstories.
* ''{{Recettear}}'': The fire bracelet I made caused the centuries-old desert? Really? As far as the customer is concerned, [[HonestJohnsDealership yes]]. It helps that the seller is a little girl with a big imagination.

* ''VideoGame/{{NieR}}'' can be guilty of this: Take your weapons to be upgraded and you get some backstories claiming that the weapon once caused an ancient tragedy.
** There's a reason for that. [[spoiler:Nier is a direct sequel to one of ''Drakengard'''s (most infuriating) endings. Most, if not all, of those weapons were Caim's.]]
*** Not to mention that Nier and the blacksmith don't create any of the weapons. You find or buy them all, the blacksmith is just improving or restoring them.

* ''{{Recettear}}'': The fire bracelet I made caused the centuries-old desert? Really?
** As far as the customer is concerned, [[HonestJohnsDealership yes]]. It helps that the seller is a little girl with a big imagination.