The Gray Fox (SPOILERS about the identity)

[Dwalin2012]

We know that count Corvus Umbranox inherited the cowl from Emer Dareloth and became the next Gray Fox, but why exactly did he inherit it? Was he a member of the thieves guild before being cursed or did the previous guildmaster just decide to pass the curse on a random person? Meaning, was the count in any way responsible for his actions? I thought about playing the "Killing the Gray Fox" mod quest, but it wouldn't be really pleasant to kill him if he is basically innocent of his crimes as somebody who didn't do them willingly.

[Tidus44]

Emer Dareloth was the original Guild Master of the Thieves Guild. He stole the cowl from Nocturnal, a daedric princess, and the cowl is a daedric artifact. Emer stole the cowl 300 years before the time of Oblivion. Nocturnal placed the curse on the cowl as follows; "Whosoever wears it shall be lost in the shadows. His true nature shall be unknown to all who meet him. His identity shall be struck from all records and histories. Memory will hide in the shadows, refusing to record the name of the owner to any who meet him. He shall be known by the cowl and only by the cowl."

 

The cowl was passed from Guild Master to Guild Master over the 300 years as, (I assume) Guild Masters aged and died or retired from being a thief. This suggests that Corvus was a thief and had worked his way up in the Guild to the position to inherit the cowl. There is some hint in the game that Corvus was not the best person in the world as it is said that; "Millona Umbranox is better off without that irresponsible husband of hers. The most honorable thing he ever did was to disappear and leave her alone."

 

The Count was likely responsible for his actions as he did take the cowl and did run the Guild. To regain his identity, he broke the curse using the Elder Scroll in the game and thus was able to return to his wife and position as Count. He passes the cowl and position of Guild Master to the player as a reward.