Gray Fox (Elder Scrolls)

In the computer game The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, the Gray Fox is the hidden leader of the Thieves' Guild in Tamriel. The name the Gray Fox is attributed from the daedric cowl (the Gray Cowl of Nocturnal) he wears, which was stolen from Nocturnal over 300 hundred years ago by the first Gray Fox and passed down to the successor Guild Masters. Template:Spoiler

The nature of the Gray Fox is inherently tied into the Gray Cowl. Unbeknownst to the original thief, the Gray Cowl was cursed. Anyone who wears the Cowl is erased completely from history, even if the Cowl is removed. The most recent Gray Fox proves this by stating his real name twice to the player during their first meeting. Because of the magics of the Cowl, however, the player forgets it.

During the events of the Thieves' Guild in Oblivion, the current Gray Fox seeks to remove this curse from the Cowl, in order to return to his previous pre-Fox life. He realizes that there's only one thing which would give him the information required to do so: an Elder Scroll. Planning the heist, the Fox uses an up-and-coming thief (the player character) to pull it off. Interestingly, the player meets the un-Cowled Fox during his missions, but cannot realize that this 'Stranger' is the Gray Fox due to the Cowl's magic.

Once the Scroll is in the Fox's possession, he uses its power, before taking off the Cowl. Thanks to the magics of the Elder Scroll, the Cowl cannot prevent people from remembering who the man used to be. He gives the Cowl to you, the player character.

Because of the Elder Scroll's modification of the Cowl, the player character has two identities. Instead of being known only as the Gray Fox, the player can remove the Cowl and be known only as the player character. For example, Bob can talk to a fellow thief, put on the Cowl, and be greeted as the Gray Fox. The fellow thief does not realize that Bob was standing before him moments ago, because Bob doesn't exist as long as the Cowl was on. Players who are seen by guards when wearing the cowl will still be attacked, even after removing it though. Guards that still attack after removing the cowl can be stopped by yielding.