Lore:Thu'um

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"Tongue" redirects here. For language, see Linguistics.

The Last Dragonborn using the Thu'um, as seen in Legends

The Thu'um, also referred to as the Masculine Breath,[1] the Storm Voice[2] or simply the Voice, is a form of magic most commonly practiced by the Nords and some others which uses the words of the language of the Dragons to form "Shouts", the equivalent of spells, of immense power. The word actually means "shout" in the Dragon language. It is said that dragons make no distinction between debating and fighting, and so their words have always been magical and powerful, for those who take the time to learn and understand their meaning.[3] The Nords believe that Kyne, the embodiment of the wind who is viewed as the Nordic aspect of Kynareth, breathed onto the land at the Throat of the World to form them.[4] As such, the Nords believe that their voice and breath is their very essence, and that channeling this life essence is how the thu'um operates. Those who can wield this power are called Tongues by the Nords. Most, if not all, people have some capacity for the thu'um, but it takes a particular talent and many, many years of study and training to become a Tongue. The thu'um can be used for a wide variety of purposes, anything from sharpening blades to quickly traveling across the land, even controlling animals or killing enemies. Some stories suggest that the ancient Tongues even had the power to "sing Shor's ghost into the world".[4][5] The most powerful Tongues must be careful when they speak and are often gagged for safety, as their voice can cause great destruction.[4]

Origins[edit]

Paarthurnax, who taught the Thu'um to the Nords

Thu'um can be traced to ancient Atmora[UOL 1] with the first known human users of the Thu'um being the priests of the Dragon Cult,[6] who were likely granted this ability from the bond they had with their respective Dragon lord.[7][8]

In the late Merethic Era, the dragon Paarthurnax taught the Thu'um to the humans who would rebel against the Dragon Cult and their dragon overlords, who were worshiped as gods.[3] These early Nords would become known as the Tongues, and began using their new-found Shouting abilities to slay the dragons.[9] The three chiefs of the Tongues devised the shout Dragonrend to render Alduin temporarily mortal, but were unable to kill him and were forced to employ the use of an Elder Scroll to banish him.[10] Most contemporary Nords believe the Thu'um was taught directly to mortals by the daughters of Kyne, while the truth and existence of Paarthurnax are kept secret.[2]

Before and during the Skyrim Conquests around 1E 240, the greatest Nordic war chiefs were also Tongues: (Derek the Tall, Jorg Helmbolg, Hoag Merkiller).[4] They needed no conventional siege weapons when attacking a city, instead using the Voice to shout down the gates and allow their armies to storm in.[11] During the first Akaviri invasion in 1E 2703 the invaders faced Reman I in a climactic battle at Pale Pass. When they heard Reman's voice, they realized he was who they were searching for, and swore fealty to him.[12]

Decline[edit]

In the early First Era, Skyrim's military suffered an ignominious defeat against Morrowind at Red Mountain. Present at the battle was Jurgen Windcaller, an extremely powerful Tongue. He was disturbed by the inability of the thu'um to secure victory, and meditated for seven years on "how Strong Voices could fail".[13] His eventual conclusions formed the basis of the philosophy of the Way of the Voice, stating that the thu'um should only be used in times of true need, not as a routine tool of conquest. Since then, the most powerful Tongues have typically become Greybeards, a group of monks who live at High Hrothgar, a settlement near the summit of the Throat of the World, where they silently study, meditate, and train until if and when a time of true need arrives. They speak only on the rarest of occasions, such as to announce the destiny of the great Tiber Septim, who united Tamriel into the Third Empire and later became Talos, the Ninth Divine.[4] In 4E 201, the Greybeards spoke again to call the Dovahkiin to High Hrothgar for instruction on how to use the thu'um.[14][15]

A Dragonborn (or Dovahkiin in the Dragon tongue) possesses the ability not only to absorb the souls of slain dragons, but to thereby absorb knowledge of their language, thus learning in a short time what it would take other Tongues a lifetime of intense training and study to achieve.[15]

Known Shouts[edit]

  • Animal Allegiance - Raan Mir tah, meaning Animal Allegiance Pack, is a shout that can call for the beasts of the wilderness to aid the Tongue in combat.[16]
  • Aura Whisper - Laas yah Nir, meaning Life Seek Hunt, is a shout that reveals the life force of any and all beings nearby.[16]
  • Battle Fury - Mid Vur Shaan, meaning Loyal Valor Inspire, is a shout that allows the allies of the Tongue to fight faster and with more fury.[17]
  • Become Ethereal - Feim Zii Gron, meaning Fade Spirit Bind, is a shout that turns the Tongue into an intangible ghost-like form, unable to be harmed.[16]
  • Bend Will - Gol Hah Dov, meaning Earth Mind Dragon, allows the Tongue to bend and control the will of others, even dragons.[17]
  • Blade Sharpening - It is said that shouts can be used to sharpen blades.[11]
  • Blizzard - Some dragons in the Second Era used a shout that formed a blizzard around them, similar to the Destruction spell of the same name.[18]
  • Bravery - It is said that a strong Nord can instill bravery in men with his battle-cry.[11]
  • Call Dragon - The name of a dragon is a shout, and calling them will summon them. The dragon is not compelled to answer the call.[16]
  • Call of Valor - Hun Kaal Zoor, meaning Hero Champion Legend, is a shout that can summon the ghost of a hero from Sovngarde to aid the Tongue in battle.[16]
  • Call Person - It is said that the greatest of the Nords can call to specific people over hundreds of miles.[11]
  • Clear Skies - Lok Vah Koor, meaning Sky Spring Summer, is a shout that can dispel storms and clouds, and even magical mists.[16]
  • Command - It is said that the power of command is a common effect of shouting.[11]
  • Cyclone - Ven Gaar Nos, meaning Wind Unleash Strike, is a shout that can summon a whirling tornado.[17]
  • Disarm - Zun Haal Viik, meaning Weapon Hand Defeat, is a shout that rips a weapon out of an opponent's hands.[16]
  • Dismay - Faas Ru Maar, meaning Fear Run Terror, is a shout that forces enemies to flee in terror from the Tongue.[11][16]
  • Dragon Aspect - Mul Qah Diiv, meaning Strength Armor Wyrm, is a shout that gives the Tongue the strength to deliver colossal blows, magical armor to withstand powerful attacks, and an empowered Thu'um. This shout can also summon an ancient Dragonborn to aid the Tongue in battle.[17]
  • Dragonrend - Joor Zah Frul, meaning Mortal Finite Temporary, is a shout that induces mortality on an opponent. This shout was created by the Nords to slay the otherwise immortal dragons.[16]
  • Dragon Storm Call / Meteor Storm - This is a shout commonly used by Alduin the World-Eater, though other dragons have been shown to know it. The shout turns the sky red and rains down flaming boulders from the sky in a meteor storm.[16][18]
  • Drain Vitality - Gaan Lah Haas, meaning Stamina Magicka Health, is a shout that drains magical and mortal energies from enemies.[19]
  • Earth Spike - Some dragons in the Second Era used a shout that casts balls of fire to the ground, summoning molten stalagmites to emerge where they land. These spikes could then explode in fire and lava when an enemy walked nearby.[18]
  • Elemental Fury - Su Grah Dun, meaning Air Battle Grace, is a shout that allows the Tongue to fight faster and with more fury.[16]
  • Event Denouement - Event Denouement is a shout used by Barfok, Maid of Planes, to guarantee her victory in any battle she fought.[20]
  • Fireball - Many dragons have used a shout that casts a fireball towards their enemy, similar to the Destruction spell of the same name.[16][18]
  • Fire Breath - Yol Toor Shul, meaning Fire Inferno Sun, allows the Tongue to exhale a torrent of flames.[16][18]
  • Form Change - This shout could be used by Bhag, the Two-Tongued, though it is unknown if this refers to an ability to shapeshift or his ability to speak in two-layers.[20]
  • Frostbolt - Some dragons in the Second Era used a shout that ball of ice towards their enemy.[18]
  • Frost Breath - Fo Krah Diin, meaning Frost Cold Freeze, is a shout that allows the Tongue to breathe freezing cold winds.[16][18]
  • Heart Roaring - This is a shout used by Chemua, the Running Hunger, to turn an opponent against their own allies.[20]
  • Ice Fields - Some dragons in the Second Era used a shout that made sharp icicles of ice emerge from the ground.[18]
  • Ice Form - Iiz Slen Nus, meaning Ice Flesh Statue, is a shout that encases an opponent in ice, freezing them solid.[16]
  • Ice Storm - Some dragons in the Fourth Era used a shout that casts a swirling storm of ice, similar to the Destruction spell of the same name.[16]
  • Kyne's Peace - Kaan Drem Ov, meaning Kyne Peace Trust, is a shout that calms nearby animals into docility, making them unwilling to fight or flee.[16]
  • Lighting Bolt - Some dragons in the Second Era used a shout that casts a lightning bolt towards their enemy, similar to the Destruction spell of the same name.[18]
  • Lightning Breath - Some dragons in the Second Era could exhale arcs of lightning towards their enemies.[18]
  • Marked For Death - Krii Lun Aus, meaning Kill Leech Suffer, is a shout that weakens the armor and drains the life of an opponent, spelling their doom.[16]
  • Nahl Daal Vus - This is a shout used by Tsun to return the Last Dragonborn to Nirn after Alduin is defeated.[16]
  • Bex, meaning Open, is a shout that can open doors.[16]
  • Phantom Form - Fiik Lo Sah, meaning Mirror Deceive Phantom, is a shout that can create ethereal forms of the Tongue.[16]
  • Raise Dead - Used by Hoaga, Mouth of Mud, and some dragons, this shout can raise the dead to fight again.[18][20]
  • Resurrection Shout - Slen Tiid Vo, meaning Flesh Time (Opposite of), is a shout used by Alduin to resurrect long-dead dragons to a state of life once more.[16]
  • Shor's Song - The Greybeards were able to sing Shor's ghost into the world, allowing the dead god to lead the armies of the Nords in the Battle of Red Mountain.[5]
  • Sky Sickening - Chemua, the Running Hunger, could use this shout to "give clouds stomach aches", turning the rain into bile.[20]
  • Slow Time - Tiid Klo Ul, meaning Time Sand Eternity, is a shout that can slow down time, allowing the Tongue to freeze his opponents in time.[16][18]
  • Soul Cairn Summon - Diil Qoth Zaam, meaning Undead Tomb Slave, is a shout that allows the Tongue to summon members of the Soul Guard from the Soul Cairn. It was used by Durnehviir.[19]
  • Soul-Snare Mist - Ven Mul Riik, meaning Wind Strong Gale, is a shout used by Alduin to ensnare the souls of Sovngarde in a mist. This is a shout that Alduin guards jealously.[16]
  • Soul Tear - Rii Vaaz Zol, meaning Essence Tear Zombie, is a shout that cuts through flesh and shatters soul, ripping the soul of an opponent out of them and raising them from the dead to fight for the Tongue.[18][19]
  • Storm Call - Strun Bah Qo, meaning Storm Wrath Lightning, summons a storm and calls down lightning on the enemies of the Tongue.[16][18]
  • Strike Enemy - Shouts can be used to strike enemies.[11]
  • Summon Durnehviir - Similar to Call Dragon, except this shout allowed the Last Dragonborn to summon Durnehviir from the Soul Cairn.[19]
  • Summon Fire Atronachs - Some dragons in the Second Era used a shout that could summon fire atronachs.[18]
  • Summon Flame Wyrms - Some dragons in the Second Era used a shout that could summon flame wyrms.[18]
  • Summon Frost Atronachs - Some dragons in the Second Era used a shout that could summon frost atronachs.[18]
  • Summon Iron Atronachs - Some dragons in the Second Era used a shout that could summon iron atronachs.[18]
  • Summon Storm Atronachs - Some dragons in the Second Era used a shout that could summon storm atronachs.[18]
  • Surety - This shout could be used by Bhag, the Two-Tongued, though it's effects are unknown.[20]
  • Teleportation Shout - It is said that the greatest Nords can move by casting a shout, appearing where it lands.[11][nb 1]
  • Throw Voice - Zul Mey Gut, meaning Voice Fool Far, is a shout that allows the sound of the Thu'um to appear from unknown sources, confounding enemies.[16]
  • Unrelenting Force - Fus Ro Dah, meaning Force Balance Push, is a shout that pushes aside anything in the Tongue's path with an incredible wave of force.[11][16]
  • What Happens When You Shake the Dragon Just So - This shout was used by Ysmir Wulfharth to restore the Nords to their proper ages after "nearly every Nord was eaten down to six years old" by Alduin.[5]
  • Whirlwind Sprint - Wuld Nah Kest, meaning Whirlwind Fury Tempest, is a shout that allows the Tongue to rush forward with immense speed.[16]

Known Tongues[edit]

Tongues are individuals who have the ability to use the Thu'um. They usually require a great deal of study and training to develop their power, but in some cases the power comes naturally to them.

Dragonborn[edit]

Miraak, the first Dragonborn, as seen in Legends

Dragonborn, particularly those anointed by Akatosh, have extreme aptitude to learn and utilize Thu'um.

Ancient Nord Heroes[edit]

The Ancient Nord Heroes, described as "the first mortal masters of the voice", were among the first Nords who learned the power of the Thu'um and were instrumental in Alduin's defeat during the Dragon War.

Great Nord War Chiefs[edit]

In the days of the conquest of Morrowind and the founding of the First Empire, several notable Nordic war chiefs were known to wield the Voice. Dunmer historical accounts vilify them as "demon chieftains" and remember some of them by other names.

Greybeards[edit]

A Greybeard mentor, as seen in Legends

The Greybeards are an ancient and honored order of monks who preach a lifestyle of meditative study of the Thu'um, known as the Way of the Voice.

Other[edit]

Divines[edit]

Alduin, first born of Akatosh, as seen in Legends

Divine beings associated with the Thu'um and its usage

Gallery[edit]

  • High Hrothgar

  • Alduin's Wall depicts the Dragon War

  • A word wall, as seen in Legends

  • Fire Breath (Legends)

  • Call of Valor (Legends)

  • Drain Vitality (Legends)

  • Soul Tear (Legends)

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ It is unknown if this teleportation shout mentioned in the book is simply a description of the Whirlwind Sprint shout.
  2. ^ Despite predating the "first mortal masters of the voice" Ysgramor is described in Nordic legends with feats such as "Shouting Some Sense" into the Nords,[21] and with "breath weighted with power sounds".[UOL 3] This could be due to a nature possibly interlinked with Dragons - be it that he was a literal Dragon,[UOL 4] or (more likely given his stature during the time period) he was a Dragon Priest.[UOL 5]
  3. ^ Nurarion of Summerset was said to possess a voice that could "cut lightning bolts in half and turn mountains to rubble". He was said to use this gift to calm the seas and banish King Orgnum's storms "to the ends of the earth" with a scream. This power was granted to him by Clavicus Vile in the Merethic Era. While its never explicitly called the Thu'um, these abilities align with its power.
  • Akaviri swordsmen have been described as possessing a power similar to the thu'um, called "kiai".[11]
  • Following his transformative process from using the Mehrunes Razor, Mankar Camoran claimed that he could now speak with another tongue and "speak fire".[23]
  • The Red Dome Templars (also known as the Red Templars) were unstable crusaders who drank the blood of Talos in order to obtain short-term martial shouting powers. They were hated by the rest of the Legion and a significant number of the members of the Elder Council wanted them dispersed. Due to this, they were mainly sent off to remote places like Morrowind.[UOL 6][UOL 4]
  • While almost all Dragon Shouts possess only three Words of Power, there is record of a possible shout that uses four. The alleged shout "Ziil Los Dii Du", which roughly means "your soul is mine to devour", was shouted by Miraak in conjunction with the names of targeted dragons to absorb their souls.[24] Whether this is a shout Miraak learned from the forbidden teachings of Hermaeus Mora or this is some other power of the Thu'um is unclear.

Books[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition: Invocation — Imperial Geographical Society, 2E 864
  2. ^ a b Varieties of Faith... — Brother Mikhael Karkuxor of the Imperial College
  3. ^ a b Paarthurnax's dialogue in Skyrim.
  4. ^ a b c d e Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition: Skyrim — Imperial Geographical Society, 2E 864
  5. ^ a b c Five Songs of King Wulfharth
  6. ^ The Guardian and the Traitor — Lucius Gallus
  7. ^ Zaan the Scalecaller's dialogue in ESO: Dragonbones
  8. ^ The History of Zaan the Scalecaller — Jorvuld Davaux, Dragon Priest Historian
  9. ^ The Dragon War — Torhal Bjorik
  10. ^ Events of Alduin's Bane in Skyrim
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Children of the Sky
  12. ^ The Rise and Fall of the Blades — Anonymous
  13. ^ The Etched Tablets of High Hrothgar.
  14. ^ Events of Dragon Rising in Skyrim
  15. ^ a b Events of The Way of the Voice in Skyrim
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab Dragon Shouts in Skyrim
  17. ^ a b c d Dragon Shouts in Dragonborn
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Dragon abilities in Online
  19. ^ a b c d Dragon Shouts in Dawnguard
  20. ^ a b c d e f 36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 9 — Vivec
  21. ^ Five Songs of King Wulfharth
  22. ^ Throw Voice word wall in Skyrim
  23. ^ Mythic Dawn Commentaries 1 — Mankar Camoran
  24. ^ Miraak's dialogue in Dragonborn

Note: The following references are considered to be unofficial sources. They are included to round off this article and may not be authoritative or conclusive.

  1. ^ Minutes of the Lusty Argonian Historical Society, Evening Star, 3E 432 — Arielle Woodhouse
  2. ^ Skyrim In the New Era — Soren Long-Tooth
  3. ^ The Seven Fights of The Aldudagga
  4. ^ a b Michael Kirkbride's Posts
  5. ^ Kurt Kuhlmann's Posts
  6. ^ Skeleton Man's Interview with Denizens of Tamriel
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