Thu ' um The Thu ' um , also referred to as Storm Voice or simply the Voice , is a form of magic that most Nords and some others possess which utilizes the Dragon Language to form Dragon Shouts of immense power . The word itself directly translates to the word " shout " in the Dragon language . Most shouts are made up of three words of power . History . Beginning . In the early ages of Nirn the only beings capable of using the Thu ' um were the dragons , the children of Akatosh . The Thu ' um was part of their natural language and could be utilized as a weapon . They abused this power to bring havoc upon the races of man during the late merethic era . Among the leader of the dragons was Alduin , the World - Eater , who took to his belief that he was a deity and claimed his father Akatosh ' s place . Humans who worshiped the dragons were part of the Dragon Cult . Human rebellion . Kyne had pitied man and tasked Paarthurnax , Alduin ' s younger brother and second - in - command , to betray the Dragons and teach man the way of the voice . The humans then used the voice to fight the dragons in what came to be known as the Dragon War . The ancient Nords created their own shout , Dragonrend . They then used this shout , along with an Elder Scroll , to send Alduin through time and end the age of the dragons . Miraak and Hermaeus Mora . Miraak , a Dragon Priest , discovered he was the first Dragonborn . He betrayed his order and sought knowledge from Hermaeus Mora , a Daedric Prince . Mora taught him the shout Bend Will , a unique shout which could force people and dragons to do his bidding . He used this shout to create an army , but in his foolishness believed he could take on all the dragons . The dragons fought him and tore Solstheim from Skyrim in a battle . Miraak was almost defeated but was saved by Hermaeus Mora . His temple was then destroyed and the dragons free from his rule . Miraak was also asked to help defeat Alduin , but refused . Miraak ' s knowledge had grown so much that he managed to learn a shout with four words , abnormal for any dragon or man . Children of the Sky . The breath and the voice are the vital essence of a Nord . When they defeat great enemies they take their tongues as trophies . These are woven into ropes and can hold speech like an enchantment . The power of a Nord can be articulated into a " dragon " shout , like the kiai of an Akaviri swordsman . The strongest of their warriors are called " Tongues . " When the Nords attack a city , they take no siege engines or cavalry ; the Tongues form in a wedge in front of the gatehouse , and draw in breath . When the leader lets it out in a kiai , the doors are blown in , and the axemen rush into the city . Shouts can be used to sharpen blades or to strike enemies . A common effect is the shout that knocks an enemy back , or the power of command . A strong Nord can instill bravery in men with his battle - cry , or stop a charging warrior with a roar . The greatest of the Nords can call to specific people over hundreds of miles , and can move by casting a shout , appearing where it lands . The most powerful Nords cannot speak without causing destruction . They must go gagged , and communicate through a sign language and through scribing runes . However , during the Alliance War the Nords of Skyrim made use of Trebuchet s and Ballistea , which implies that as of the Second Era the Nords stopped using the Voice for warfare . King Wulfharth . King Wulfharth was a Dragonborn and had mastery over the Thu ' um . It is said his Thu ' um was so powerful that he could not verbally swear into the office , and scribes were used to draw up his oaths . He learnt it when watching battles of using the Thu ' um . Creation of the Greybeards . In time man too had abused the voice . Instead of using it as a form of prayer or use of self - defense , they instead used it as a mere weapon . Jurgen Windcaller founded the Greybeards on the Throat of the World and taught man to instead use the Thu ' um as a force of peace and enlightenment , a teaching which now remains in the Greybeard code . Many greybeards have such a powerful Thu ' um they could cause major destruction with a simple sentence . Tiber Septim . The future Emperor of the Septim Empire , Tiber Septim , also known as General Talos was a Dragonborn taught by Wulfharth how to use the voice . He made his way up the Throat of the World and entered High Hrothgar . The Greybeards told Talos that he would become the chosen one who would defeat the Elves and become Emperor of a united Tamriel . Ulfric Stormcloak . Ulfric Stormcloak was the Jarl of Windhelm who was taught under the Greybeards on how to use the voice . He then grew up to abandon the pacifist philosophy of the Greybeards and used it in combat during the Markarth Incident and against High King Torygg . However , Ulfric mentions to the Dragonborn that he still doesn ’ t take the Thu ' um lightly even though he can ’ t completely tale to its philosophy . Last Dragonborn and Alduin . A hero called the Last Dragonborn was a prisoner , about to be executed at Helgen in 4E 201 . Before their execution could happen , Alduin , the World - Eater , showed up after his travel through time and destroyed the town . This granted the hero with an escape . The Last Dragonborn then slayed Mirmulnir and discovered they could absorb Dragon Soul s . They then used the Thu ' um and were called upon by the Greybeards , who shouted " Dovahkiin . " The Dragonborn was then journeyed up High Hrothgar and trained with the Greybeards . They then went on a mission to find out how to defeat Alduin and prevent the world ' s destruction . After discovering how to defeat Alduin , the Dragonborn then went on to defeat Alduin using the Thu ' um in Sovngarde . Last Dragonborn and Miraak . At some point the Last Dragonborn was ambushed by a group of cultist s sent by Miraak . Upon investigating and arriving on Solstheim , the Dragonborn then discovered who Miraak was and how his history tied in with theirs . Upon completing multiple tasks for the Skaal and Hermaeus Mora , the Last Dragonborn then learned the Bend Will shout , freed the All - Maker stones and Solstheim from Miraak ' s grasp and traveled to Apocrypha to defeat Miraak . During this the Thu ' um was used extensively , and was even known to have had a four word shout involved . Learning . The Thu ' um can be taught through many means to men , mer and beastfolk alike . Individuals who are Dragonborn can learn the Thu ' um faster . Training . While the Thu ' um can easily be learnt by Dragonborn , it takes a much longer time to learn for regular people . Ulfric Stormcloak spent around ten years training with the Greybeards to learn the Thu ' um . Word Walls . Words of power can be learnt from Word Wall s found throughout Tamriel . Each wall often contains one word , and can only be used by those with the knowledge of the Thu ' um . Passing of knowledge . Shouts and words of power can be passed on from one another . This is demonstrated by the greybeards .