The Elder Scrolls: Who is the Gray Fox?

gamerant.com:

First-time players of The Elder Scrolls, particularly Oblivion, will know the Gray Fox as an elusive thief and the leader of the Thieves Guild. They’ll see wanted posters everywhere in the Imperial City, denouncing him as a public menace who should be captured. However, should the player undertake the Thieves Guild questline, they’ll learn that the Gray Fox’s identity is not as clear-cut as it initially seems.

In The Elder Scrolls franchise, the Gray Fox is not one single character, but a persona. As such, many people have become the Gray Fox and then passed the title on to the next worthy thief. Though players are first introduced to this persona in Oblivion, the Gray Fox originates from a much earlier time. It all starts with the theft of Nocturnal's Gray Cowl.

The Elder Scrolls: Lore Behind Sea Elves Explained

Oblivion and Skyrim players come across a book called Purloined Shadows as they explore the world. Its author was Waughin Jarth, a prolific Breton writer known for his books that take inspiration from historical figures. Some of his most notable works include A Dance in Fire and The Wolf Queen. Purloined Shadows tells the story of a young thief girl who breaks into a Master Thief’s stronghold and asks him to teach her his ways. The Master Thief agrees, telling the girl that their final test will be to steal the cloak of the Daedric Prince Nocturnal.

After training for some time, the girl and the Master Thief head out on the Eighth of Hearthfire to watch a coven of witches perform a ritual for Nocturnal. The young thief concealed herself among the crows on the branches of the tree, while the Master Thief hid somewhere she did not know. The girl watched as the witches cried their strange chants, watched as Nocturnal