The Gray Fox (Oblivion)

The Gray Fox is the guildmaster of the Thieves Guild. He gets his name from his sneakiness in thievery and from the gray mask, the Gray Cowl of Nocturnal, that he wears. The first Gray Fox stole the cowl from the Daedric Prince Nocturnal herself. The title of Gray Fox is passed from leader to successor by giving the Gray Cowl of Nocturnal to the successor. Since the successor then becomes the Gray Fox, many think that he has been alive for over 300 years.
In the book Purloined Shadows, a young female thief is enlisted to help a master thief. During a ritual performed by witches, Nocturnal is summoned, and she removes her cowl during the ritual. The young thief is hiding there, waiting for the master's signal to steal the cowl. Suddenly, the master's voice cries out, warning Nocturnal of the young thief's presence. Nocturnal turns and begins to strangle the young thief. The young thief, before she dies, notices that the cowl has disappeared. It is presumed that the master thief then dons the cowl and becomes the Gray Fox, activating the curse of the cowl in the process.
It is unknown whether the book is true or not, but it tells possibly the only full story of how the Gray Fox came to be in possession of the cowl. The names of both thieves are never revealed in the book; however, at the end of the Thieves' Guild quest line, the current Gray Fox names Emer Dareloth as the true thief of the cowl.
==Identity==
It is revealed later that the current Gray Fox is Corvus Umbranox, the Count of Anvil. The curse of the Cowl caused his real identity to be erased from history, forcing him to continue his life known only as "The Stranger". Though he had been missing for ten years, with the help of the Hero, he lifts this curse from himself at the end of The Ultimate Heist and returns to his wife, the Countess of Anvil Millona Umbranox. He passes down the Cowl to the Hero to succeed him as Gray Fox and the Grandmaster of the Thieves Guild, thus they become the new Gray Fox.
==Interactions==
===Turning a Blind Eye===
Methredhel or Amusei tells the Hero that the Gray Fox wants an audience with them at Helvius Cecia's House in Bruma. There, the Gray Fox tasks the Hero with stealing the Savilla's Stone from the Temple of the Ancestor Moths. Returning to the Gray Fox with Savilla's Stone and the note "Instructions: the Gray Cowl" allows the Hero to ask him about the Cowl's nature.
===Arrow of Extrication===
Amusei tells the Hero that the Gray Fox requested an audience at Malintus Ancrus' House in Chorrol. The legendary thief tasks them with stealing the Arrow of Extrication from Fathis Aren's Tower through a hidden passage in Castle Bravil.
===Boots of Springheel Jak===
Amusei tells the Hero is requested at a meeting at Garendhel's House in Cheydinhal. After a brief conversation, the Gray Fox tasks the Hero with retrieving the Boots of Springheel Jak. After speaking with Jak's descendant, Jakben, Earl of Imbel, the Hero must then battle five vampires in order to recover the Boots. However, there were no Boots, instead the Hero finds a diary, revealing that Jakben was in fact the legendary Springheel Jak and that he sent the Hero to a trap. The Hero must then defeat Jak in order to recover his boots and deliver them to the Gray Fox.
===The Ultimate Heist===
The Gray Fox tasks the Hero with stealing an Elder Scroll. After recovering the Scroll, the Gray Fox uses it to reveal the identity of the true thief, Emer Dareloth, and return to his normal life.
==Quotes==
{|class="obqtable" style="width: 100%;" 	Quote	Audio
"Are you ready for one last great heist?" 	 	
"The Gray Cowl is now yours. You are the new guildmaster of the Thieves Guild." 	 	
"Come. We have much to discuss." 	 	
"Not now. I need to think." 	 	
"Capital! The monastery is called the Temple of the Ancestor Moths. It is where retired, blind Moth priests go to wait out the rest of their days." 	 	
"Remember, do not shed innocent blood. However, there is no bloodprice for slaying the stone's guardians, human or inhuman." 	 	
"Curb your tongue, Shadowfoot! I am the Gray Fox. If you ever want to become a Master Thief in the guild, you had better learn respect." 	 	
"You may pay me now, or Armand Christophe later should you choose to return to my good graces." 	 	
"You think this is Nocturnal's cowl? Where did you hear about that?" 	 	
"You should know better than to give heed to rumors." 	 	
"I see. I suppose there is no hiding it from you. No hiding. What a joke! My whole life is hiding." 	 	
"You and I have even met before, when I was not wearing the cowl. To your clouded memory he and I are two different people." 	 	
"Preparation is the key to success. Come back to me when you are better prepared." 	 	
"Whelp of a Shadowfoot! You had better learn respect if you want to advance in the Thieves Guild." 	 	
"Well go get it!" 	 	
"I have no patience for impertinence. Maybe I should reconsider what I was about to offer you." 	 	
"I am truly indebted to you. If all goes well, I may call upon you for one last task. The danger will be great, but the reward will be greater." 	 	
"Did I know him personally? Of course not. He lived 300 years ago." 	 	
"Ah. It seems you have stumbled over a bit of history that few in the Thieves Guild ever discover. I am not the first Gray Fox." 	 	
"Over the centuries there have been dozens of Gray Foxes. To the rest of the world he seems immortal and unchanging. I am hoping to be the last." 	 	
"Don't waste my time. Not in the mood for it." 	 	
"Capital! I have worked for eleven years planning this heist. Savilla's Stone provided the last bit of information I needed." 	 	
"If Emer Dareloth had not stolen Nocturnal's Cowl, the Thieves Guild would never have fallen on such hard times." 	 	
"Because of the curse, he was unable to operate in the normal world of business and society. He could only act as the guild's figurehead." 	 	
"That has been undone. If you go to the Imperial City, you will find that the Thieves Guild has a guild hall on the site of the ruins of Dareloth." 	 	
"We are going to steal one of the Elder Scrolls from the Imperial Palace. Are you ready for this challenge?" 	 	
"As the guildmaster, I am waiving bloodprice for anyone you kill during this heist. However, I can't stop the Watch from putting a price on your head."	 	
"Ah! Still thinking about your reward, eh? I have not forgotten you or your loyal service to the Thieves Guild. You'll just have to trust me." 	 	
"The new Gray Fox. The cowl suits you. Me? I am much happier without it." (As Corvus Umbranox) 	 	
"Do you have my fee?" (As A Stranger) 	 	
"Why are you bothering me? It isn't done yet. Now get out of here and let me finish." (As A Stranger) 	 	
"Then what are you doing here? Come back when you have the money." (As A Stranger) 	 	
"Here is the new List of Candidates. Hieronymus Lex has a glowing recommendation." (As A Stranger) 	 	
==Legacy==
There are several references to the Gray Fox in Skyrim:
*During the Thieves Guild questline, the Bust of the Gray Fox can be found in Mercer Frey's house. The bust is a larceny target for Delvin Mallory, and upon turning it in, will appear on the guildmaster's desk. Delvin will also state that Mercer Frey admires the Gray Fox.
*When in the Pelagius Wing of the Blue Palace, the Dragonborn is teleported into the Pelagius' mind. With in-game subtitles turned on, Sheogorath mentions several things pertaining to the life of the Hero of Kvatch, including "a Fox," with a capitalized F.
*Upon completing the Thieves Guild questline, Ravyn Imyan will occasionally praise the Dragonborn as they pass him, but comment that they are no Gray Fox.
==Gallery==
Gray Fox.png|Wanted poster of the Gray Fox
Gray Fox 1.png|The Gray Fox in the Imperial City Waterfront
Gray Fox 3.png|A Gray Fox wanted poster on the Imperial City wall
Gray Fox 4.png|The Gray Fox in the Imperial City Waterfront
The Stranger.png|The Gray Fox as "The Stranger"
Corvus Umbranox.png|His True Identity: Lord Corvus Umbranox
==Trivia==
*The Gray Fox was voiced by Wes Johnson.
*If the Hero attempts to pickpocket the Gray Fox they will find in his inventory the same outfit that the Stranger wore in Taking Care of Lex. This is likely an Easter egg as the Stranger is the Gray Fox not wearing the Gray Cowl. This is hinted at when confronting him with the note in Turning a Blind Eye. He'll say they've met once before, but because of the Gray Cowl the Hero's mind interprets them as two different people.
==Appearances==
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de:Graufuchs
es:Zorro Gris
pl:Szary Lis
ru:Серый Лис (персонаж)
Category:Oblivion: Thieves Guild Members
Category:Oblivion: Quest Givers
Category:Oblivion: Titles