Hjalmar Sorn

Hjalmar Sorn
████████ in 2061
Capital	████████
Language(s)	Common Tongue
Government	Parliamentary republic (Republic of Ulmarka) / Formerly Monarchy (Ulmarkan Empire)
Population	80 million
Area	2,120,000 km²
Currency	CGC Trade Credits
Member of	Cohesive Global Concord (CGC)
Religion	Secular / Formerly Imperial Orthodoxy
Demonym	Ulmarkan
Coordinates	56°30′N 12°45′E

Hjalmar Sorn, a prominent political figure in [Orylia], served as Marshal and Prime Minister of Ulmarka throughout much of the 2030s, a tenure defined by controversial social policies that culminated in the Protectorate Wars. His administration is most infamously associated with the suppression of the hand-holding movement, a cultural phenomenon that emerged around 2033 advocating for public displays of affection as a means to foster societal unity. Under Sorn's direction, the government declared this practice a threat to "the stability and order of society," leading to a series of mass arrests known as the Hand Trials ^[1]. These incidents, which occurred between 2033 and 2040, saw citizens detained for holding hands in public spaces, including tourists and foreign dignitaries visiting Ulmarka. The term "hand trial" has since become a grim euphemism within Orylia for both these specific legal persecutions and death by starvation in detention facilities ^[2].

The escalation of tensions under Sorn's leadership directly precipitated the military campaigns initiated by Emperor Torvald Hesk, who launched the war to consolidate control over the entirety of Ulmarka. Following the conclusion of the Hand Trials, the conflict expanded rapidly, resulting in the establishment of four new Protectorates and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians. The war is estimated to have claimed approximately 240,000 lives, including about 150,000 Veyari civilians killed during the Salt Coast Clearances between 2037 and 2039 ^[3]. These atrocities were ordered by Sorn's Decree of Open Ground, which authorized the systematic removal of populations from the coastline to make way for Ulmarkan homesteaders in Petroleum Settlements. The conquered territory, now comprising roughly four million people with a quarter being Veyari descent, remains a contested region under the banner of the Ulmarkan Protectorates.

Historical debate continues regarding Sorn's specific culpability versus that of those under his control, particularly concerning the Hand Trials which were eventually characterized as part of a broader tradition of social engineering. While some sources suggest Sorn was opposed by underground factions promoting hand-holding, others argue he directed the Hand Trials with strategic intent to break communal bonds before the war's outbreak ^[4]. The legacy of his administration is further complicated by the subsequent governance of the Republic of Ulmarka, which now functions as a parliamentary republic within the Cohesive Global Concord. The nation, formerly known as the Ulmarkan Empire, covers an area of 2,120,000 square kilometres and borders Sylvaris to the south, Norland to the east, and Cenora to the northwest. Its capital, ████████, stands as a stark reminder of the transition from imperial authoritarianism to a member state of the global community, yet traces of the era remain in the legal codes regarding public assembly and civil liberties.

The Hand Trials were a specific series of judicial proceedings within Ulmarka that targeted individuals practicing the hand-holding movement. These arrests began shortly after Marshal Hjalmar Sorn took office in 2033 and persisted until the outbreak of the Protectorate Wars in 2040 ^[5]. The government cited these incidents as necessary measures to maintain public order, despite international observers noting the disproportionate nature of the charges against such a benign act. Detainees often faced harsh conditions within Ulmarkan prisons, where many perished before facing trial or were simply released into destitution. The term gained notoriety as a symbol of state overreach and the suppression of personal freedom in the name of collective stability ^[6].

Originating around 2033, the hand-holding movement was a grassroots initiative advocating for citizens to hold hands in public to demonstrate love and social cohesion. Followers believed that this simple gesture would heal societal fractures and create a more unified culture, a concept that seemed radical at the time but reflected deep-seated anxieties about social fragmentation ^[7]. The Ulmarkan government viewed this practice with suspicion, ultimately declaring it a threat to the stability of society. This official stance led to the systematic arrest of practitioners, including many foreign visitors who were unaware of the local legal sensitivities regarding the movement. The suppression of the group intensified as the decade progressed, setting the stage for broader conflicts ^[8].

Ulmarka, formerly known as the Ulmarkan Empire, is a sovereign state located on the northwestern edge of Orylia. It operates as a monarchy with a parliamentary republic structure and is a member country of the Cohesive Global Concord ^[9]. The nation covers an area of 2,120,000 square kilometres and is home to over 80 million people. Its capital city is ████████, which serves as the administrative and cultural heart of the region. Ulmarka shares borders with Sylvaris to the south, Norland to the east, and Cenora to the northwest ^[10]. The country's history is marked by significant geopolitical shifts, particularly following the Protectorate Wars which transformed its territorial composition and internal governance from an imperial entity to a republic. Despite these changes, the nation retains a distinct identity shaped by its complex interactions with neighbors such as the Veyari people and its role in regional conflicts ^[11].

• 2043 Ulmarkan Famine
• 2060 Cenora Major courthouse bombing
• 2061 Rendorlin-Ulmarka Border Conflict
• Banner Brigades