What is honor? Honor is a reflection of our efforts and pursuits towards the other 8 of the Nine Noble Virtues....in short, it is an encapsulation of those efforts. The outward manifestation of Honor, reputation, is often associated with the Hamingja, and ultimately, Fehu; this alone should express how important Honor is, and how it can potentially be transformed from one form to another both in realms visible and invisible.
        Honor (or Dishonor) is your "calling card" if you will, in the world at large. In times of peace, Honor tells me whether I should welcome you into my life as a potential friend, or shun you as a source of pestilence; in times of conflict, this same Honor helps me determine if I should welcome you into my confidence as a trusted comrade, or if I should fire my weapon into your head. Sound rather drastic? The world in which the values which we hold dear as Virtues and goals took shape in a very "drastic' environment; ofttimes, the survival of an individual or the family/clan/tribe that they belonged to hinged upon their Honor, that is, the reputation that they were held in by others...neither peace treaties that could stop slaughter of kith & kin nor trade agreements that could provide vital necessities could be entered into if one's personal or collective Honor was poor in some area, ie "Their Troth cannot be trusted."
        In today's culture, the term "Man of Honor" is used to denote someone that a given person hold in a certain level of respect or esteem, but rarely are the points with compose this state of Honor expounded upon . When we speak of a "Dishonorable" person, thing seem to more easily fall into place where defining "qualities" are concerned: Dishonesty, Disloyalty and Cowardice (the antitheses to 3 of the Nine Noble Virtues) most quickly spring to mind even in today's modern society, and still carry punishments at a legal level from judgments handed down against convictions of perjury (Dishonesty) and treason (Disloyalty); Cowardice is still a punishable offense in military courts. It's comforting that written law if not popular cultural "tradition" recognizes the pragmatic necesssities of Truth, Loyalty (Troth), and Courage, even though it appears that these Virtues have been cast aside as personal and familial ideals in today's "world."
        Through direct experience of the Wyrdest of Runes ("Life"), I have determined that while Honor indeed encapsulates the other Noble Virtues, there is one Virtue that most clearly defines Honor: Loyalty. While others might insist that Truth or Courage is the yardstick of Honor, I would argue that Loyalty itself implies the presence of the two former Thews, as well as others; a man or a woman of Honor can be relied upon in trying times, can be trusted with a confidence, and can be depended upon to stand by comrades & kinsmen despite popular opinion or superior numbers...these are the ones who will remain when others abandon you like chafe when a strong wind blows across the grain.