The Glass War and the Alliance's Turn

In Morant, Lorist masters gunpowder and glass. Two letters he drops almost idly cunningly set the Trinberg Kingdom and the Forde Commercial Alliance at each other's throats, sparking a full-scale 'Glass War'. Meanwhile Lorist learns of a fateful decision: the Alliance abandons its century-old 'commerce-over-conquest' policy and adopts a noble-title system, aiming to carve up the fallen Krisen Empire.

This drags the house into unavoidable war: the Qikede (Chigeda) Trading Company covets the Nortons' Whale Island (Hilowas Island) for naval supremacy. Spurning advice to sell the island, Lorist resolves to fight — and to become the new master of the seas.