The Elder Scrolls Iv: Oblivion
The successor
Prologue
A Fan Fiction by: Zetafire
As view from an eyewitness from the area of the crime, Skingrad, 11:43 AM
'' I was walking home on that particular hour. I had just visited the mages guild for some advise on how to use spells the correct way. My charm and conceal were not functioning right. Either way, when I walked out, I saw him. He was tall, with loose brown hair and fancy clothes. His back was turned to me, but from what I could see, he was staring at the general trade store. I turned around when I heard a small shout come from the other end of the bridge. It came from...a guard talking, or shouting, at another. Typical guard duty. When I turned around, I found to my surprise that the man that I had looked at wasn't there anymore. The door to the shop was wide open, and the owner was swearing loudly from inside.
When guards came to inspect, he said that a man wearing a white mask, resembling the face of a puma, enter his store, drew a sharp looking blade, and in the blink of an eye, stole almost all his food stock and ran out with blinding speed. Somehow, in the time span of 30 seconds that I was distracted, the man entered the store and robbed it. I didn't notice him enter the store, I didn't hear the door creak open or people shouting. I never turned around because I never had a reason except to go home. Whoever this thief was, with his animal mask, strongly reminds me of the Gray fox.
But it cannot be him, for the Gray fox was truly a long lost count…that died on the hands of his wife after their mournful reunion…a few weeks ago before the string of robberies began and the Gray fox's fame was replaced by the new animal-related thief, The White Puma.''
Taken from a Black Horse Courier Article: Gray Fox's happy and sad farewell. Source: Anvil. 2:46 PM.
'' Happiness and sadness mixed together on the same day? Well, believe it or not, it happened. To who else than the gray fox himself!? Or better known as the long lost count of Anvil…who was reunited with his wife for a mere 2 minutes before…passing on.
The count of Anvil came in, according to the guards, ' limping and leaning heavily on another person, who we couldn't get his facial features for he had a curious mask ' and made his way quickly to the countess's audience. There, it was revealed all. The mask, the thievery, the pain, the way he lived, and the way he became the Gray Fox. It took some time to convince the countess, but she gave in after seeing his tales were true. The count than fell to the floor, succumbing to death quickly.
The mysterious person that was with the count disappeared while he talked with his wife. Nobody saw him walk out the front doors. The countess took it particularly hard on herself, because she had lost her husband once, and now again, but this time he was gone for real. The countess's bodyguards reporting seeing a smile on the gray fox and even a tear run out. Most likely because of joy, and a bit due to pain.
Since the gray fox was the leader of the thieves guild, the imperial legion thought it dissolve. But rumors keep going that the guild is still very active and has a new leader. They are rumors, and the imperial city watch are removing all search warrants of the gray fox, and posting up new ones for the new target, whoever he or she may be…''
Inside a house in Anvil, standing by a stool next to a small end table, is a dark figure. The figure is staring at a small pile of fruit, laid carefully in a basket on a table. It has his fingers twitching, yearning to grab something. His eyes are locked on the fruit, freshly picked by the looks. In a flash, the fruits are gone, and the dark figure has escaped. It has run out into the night, carrying his loot.
The figure looks up into the moon, the light reflecting his white mask. This person has a reason to steal, and it is not for fame or glory, or fortune, but rather food…food and clothes and objects needed rather than wanted. This person steals because it's his job, the job as the new leader of the thieves guild, the White Puma.