Honor is the first and foremost mark which distinguishes an Atheling from the Scraelings around him. It contains his moral compass, but it is more than that. It guides him in every aspect of life, and he may often ask himself whether an action would contribute to honor or dishonor.
There are different types of honor as well. Interpersonal honor is that which is seen by others, and includes the way others are treated. Yet, a man who is very good at obeying social customs may display good interpersonal honor while secretly lacking in personal honor. He may twist the rules to his own ends and manipulate others. In this case, his dishonor will most likely be discovered eventually, but by then, it will be too late.
If a man has good personal honor, the honor he gives himself will shine through to others. He will most likely eat well, stay in shape, and will not be a thief or murderer, as acts done in secret reek of dishonor. Still though, he may not be socially well-adjusted, and his awkward social interactions may ruffle other people's feathers.
A well-rounded individual will seek to cultivate both types of honor, as well as honor in any other form it may take. How is this to be done? With the Nine Noble Virtues, of course!
Truth
Courage
Honor*
Troth
Discipline
Hospitality
Self-Reliance
Industriousness
Perseverance
One who cultivates these virtues will be well on his way to building a strong foundation of Honor. On this eternal quest, however, the Nine Noble Virtues will only take you so far. Observation of Runic Law comes next, but more on that later.
*A note on listing "Honor" as a way to build "Honor"-
The objective is to build an aura of Honor around the Atheling, so that his might shines out from him and can be felt by others simply by standing in his presence. This Honor is a result of cultivating the Nine Noble Virtues or observing Runic Law, and is involuntary. The accomplished Atheling could not hide the Honor emanating from him if he tried!
Honor within the Nine Noble Virtues is the intentionally cultivated kind- the type which must always be kept in mind. This is always the way that the previous type of honor begins, as a lengthy personal creed of morality, rules, and habits which will eventually become natural if practiced with discipline.
