Order of the Hour ( Book ) Content . By Exordor Vasidius , Sermonizer , Priest of Akatosh The Order of the Hour is one of the oldest knightly orders in the Empire . It was born early in the life of the Empire , during the First Era , and eventually faded into obscurity during the Second Era . It was founded by Ennon Decan as an order of knights dedicated to Akatosh , though originally it drew its members from the priesthood and military alike . The most recent incarnation of the Order of the Hour was established in 2E 432 by the warrior - priest of Akatosh , Cavor Merula , in response to the collapse of the Second Empire and the coming of the Longhouse Emperors . Fearing for the safety of the Dragon God priesthood and wanting to protect the Cathedral of Akatosh and its many historic and religiously significant treasures , Cavor gathered a few devoted and trusted fellow priests and dedicated himself and his brothers to the defense of the Cathedral . On that day , the Order of the Hour was reborn . Soon , devout soldiers and warrior - priests in service to Akatosh began to flock to the Order ' s banner . The feared retribution against the Divines by the Longhouse Emperors never materialized , however , and the Order of the Hour transformed into a small but elite unit of bodyguards devoted to the Cathedral and its resident Primate , the leader of the Akatosh faith . In many ways , the Order of the Hour developed into a mostly ceremonial organization , although they maintained their training and combat readiness . When the occasional threat did strike from the shadows , the Order was prepared . Take , for example , the Kvatch Bread Riots of 2E 467 . The common folk , fearful and angry due to the Red Wheat blight that devastated crops for the second year in a row , decided that Akatosh and his priests weren ' t doing enough to rectify the situation . Gruff Bojour led an ax - and torch - bearing mob to the very steps of the Cathedral , intent on inflicting violence and making their displeasure known . But the Order of the Hour was ready for the assault , and Sister Severa and her warrior - priests slaughtered half the crowd before even a single torch had been thrown . The Primate promised to pray to end the tribulation , and by the next season the blight had run its course . Other examples of the bravery and dedication of the Order of the Hour exist , including saving Primate Phrastus from an assassin ' s blade in 2E 540 and rescuing a caravan of priests and pilgrims from bandits in 2E 561 . The Order has never wavered from its vow to serve and protect the Cathedral , and by extension , the priests and worshipers who occupy the holy place . In 2E 480 , a writ from the Primate of Akatosh authorized the Order to form into an army during times of religious emergencies . Answering only to religious authority , the militarized Order took to the walls of Kvatch to protect the city from a horde of brigands led by the charismatic Orc marauder , Baz Swordbreaker . Thanks to the efforts of the Order , the brigands were defeated and the city saved . Immediately thereafter , the army disbanded and the Order returned to its regular duties at the Cathedral . Recruits to the Order must be devout followers of Akatosh , unmarried so that they may devote themselves fully to the Order and its intense regimens . While the Order began as a small group of warrior - priests , the organization has recently broadened its acceptance criteria so that non - clergy can undertake the vows . Once indoctrinated into the Order , members undergo enhanced training in combat and skills related to keeping the Cathedral safe . When the Gold Coast isolated itself from Cyrodiil after the Empire collapsed and the Three Banners War began , Artorius Ponticus , Primate of Kvatch , immediately set out to bolster the power and scope of the Order of the Hour . He instructed Commander Marcus Scipio to increase the size of the Order and set about expanding the Order ' s responsibilities beyond the boundaries of the Cathedral and into the rest of the city of Kvatch . This was done , as the Primate has said on numerous occasions , " To reinforce the capabilities of the Kvatch Guard in these dangerous and troubling times . " As anyone can plainly see , the Primate has only the best interests of Kvatch and its people in mind . With recent threats against the city and the Cathedral , the Count of Kvatch has granted the Primate of Akatosh emergency powers to once again convert the Order into an army . Today , the Order of the Hour boasts the largest force in the history of the organization . With a mix of devoted warrior - priests and dedicated soldiers of faith filling its growing ranks , the Order now maintains the safety and keeps the peace of not only the Cathedral of Akatosh ' s grounds , but of all of Kvatch as well . No matter how chaotic things get on the other side of Varen ' s Wall , on the Kvatch side , the Order has things well in hand .