Racial Motifs 40 : Order Hour Content . By Amminus Entius , First Quartermaster of the Order The Order of the Hour is the defensive arm of the Chantry of Akatosh , and as well - disciplined knights of the Order , you must at all times properly represent the dignity and glory of the ancient Imperial worship of the Dragon God of Time . Though the Order is not technically a part of the Imperial hierarchy , we nonetheless embody the virtues of the old Empire — and our equipment must reflect those virtues as well . AXES The Order ' s axe , whether one - handed or two , is a weapon not overlarge , but rather well - balanced and wieldy , for use in both military melee and civilian riots . The long axe - head is as useful for prying as it is for chopping , and it ' s backed by a strong spike that can be used to dismount opponents or dismantle barricades . BELTS The belts worn with Order armor blend in with the cuirass above and the tassets below , seemingly part of the greater armor set rather than a separate garment — much as every Knight of the Order sets aside his or her personal agenda to become a living embodiment of the will of the Primate . The buckle may display the hourglass symbol of the Akatosh Chantry . BOOTS Our knightly footwear is adapted from the standard sandals of the Imperial legionaries , and pays tribute to the Empire by displaying a Cyrodiilic diamond on the instep . In the heavier armor variations , the entire foot is wrapped in flexible leather for protection . BOWS Knights of the Order of the Hour stress the skill of mounted or hand - to - hand melee combat , and place little emphasis on ranged attacks . Our bows , therefore , are relatively simple implements of yew or ash , decorated just enough to do honor to the dignity of our position in the Colovia n community . CHEST PIECES Our cuirasses are based on Imperial Legionary armor of the Reman period , but ornamented with swirling designs representing the roiling mists of time , optionally supplemented by Imperial diamonds or the hourglass symbol of the Akatosh Chantry . DAGGERS The Order ' s dagger is a broad , triangular stabbing blade , a smaller version of the Imperial gladius , or short sword . It is edged on both sides , and narrows to a razor - sharp needle point . The quillion is barely broader than the base of the blade , and may be ornamented with a diamond or hourglass symbol . GLOVES A rigid upper gauntlet protects the forearms of Knights of the Order of the Hour , ornamented with swirling time mists , and perhaps an Imperial diamond or Akatosh hourglass . The gloves that cover the hand are made of supple kid leather , to facilitate the grip of our weapons . HELMETS The design of an Hour Knight ' s helm harkens back to the officer ' s helmets of the Imperial Legions of the Second Empire , with a proud and noble crest above , and nasal and cheek plates to protect the face . No knight should fear getting embroiled in close melee because his or her face is unprotected . LEG GREAVES The standard leg armor worn by Knights of the Order is faced in front with rigid kite - shaped greaves to protect the shins , ornamented as desired with time - swirls , Imperial diamonds , or the Akatosh hourglass . A small hourglass may even be inset within a large diamond . MACES The Hour Knight ' s mace has a heavy spherical head , studded with pointed spikes . This is a weapon for killing , not crowd control , and is used only in military affairs where the enemy is to be given no quarter . The upper haft is sheathed in metal to enable parrying . SHIELDS The shield of the Order of the Hour is distinctive , so that all may know whom they oppose . It is large and rectangular in design , and made of good steel , though to keep the weight down the metal is thick only at the edges and in the center . Its chief symbol is a great hourglass , showing a double twist that represents our devotion to duty and the right . SHOULDER ARMOR Like our cuirasses , an Hour Knight ' s pauldrons are based on the armor of the Second Empire , with two or three curved , overlapping plates , rising toward a vertical gardbrace that protects the side of the neck . STAVES The staves of the Order ' s spellcasters are truly magnificent , with finials like great hourglasses crowned with the wings of the Dragon God of Time . The ferrule at the end of the haft is a pointed steel spike , and the haft itself is decorated with designs that evoke the swirling mists of time . SWORDS A Knight of the Order of the Hour bears a sword with a long , broad , triangular blade , edged on both sides and pointed for thrusting . The crosstree is narrow , as our melee doctrine emphasizes active parrying , rather than letting the opponent ' s blade slide to the pommel , which is just sloppy .