Because it is filtered through stories. And stories are sometimes true, and sometimes not true.
Even if the guy is a legitimate bad ***. Doesn't mean they won't make stuff up.
Especially when the story is the most important part.
So for example Timor for a while there was just the worst most violent place. And the people had more experience than most people at the darkest sort of combat you could imagine. So theoretically they should have the best first hand knowledge of how combat works.
But they also believe magic plays a role.