Emergence
The Garden of Ki began less as a faction than a collection of self-regulating communities bound together by a broad environmental concern and rejection of 'Old World' philosophy. The Garden officially came into being ten years after Outbreak (although it was only the most prominent of many radical environmentalist groups which sprung up at the time), when a group of multi-faction dissidents led by former teacher Eugene Rousseau struck out from what remained of civilization and settled the first Ki colony - Genesis. The colony acted as a beacon for like-minded dissidents, and soon Ki colonies sprung up along the Western seaboard, and North into harsh mountainous country.
Philosophy
There were two broad strands of thought which united the colonies (collectively known as the Garden) - first is a rejection of much of the modern industrial-capitalist society which existed in developed countries prior to outbreak, and a return to an earlier more naturalistic way of life. Second is a progressive scientific understanding of the ecological system and the role humans must play within it to sustain equilibrium. This melding of the ancient and modern appealed to a wide range of the New World population - scientists, theologians, farmers, artists, all brought their own unique skills and helped the Garden to flourish.
Divisions
Being a loosely aligned group of radical collectives with no official government, as well as the broad poltical basis of its members, meant differences were often pronounced within the Ki communities. While the freedom to express these differences was always a source of pride for Garden citizens, once those differences began to crystalise into factional confrontation the respective colony councils recognised the need for a central comittee to maintain order even though the individual colonies would retain their independence. Following elections Eugene Rousseau was elected Spokesman, with Xi Shi Zhao as Deputy. Rousseau, a frontiersman and skilled
craftsman represented the more traditional founding principles of The Garden of Ki - he emphasised self-sufficiency, the superiority of pre-modern technologies and art, and the importance of each individual working the land. Zhao, by contrast represented a younger generation of Ki citizens. They did not just revere the earth they worshipped it, reclaiming many of the older pagan traditions and spiritual ceremonies. Against the highly pacifistic Rousseau, Zhao emphasised the often savage splendour of the natural world, her 'Braves' making Ki settlements somewhat unwelcoming for outsiders.
Religion and Conquest
It is unclear at what point the ecological philosophy of the Garden morphed into a religious creed. No doubt for some citizens it had always been so, while even when Zhao's influence was at its zenith there were many who retained their secular beliefs. What is clear is that by AO15 'Breath of Gaia' was the unofficial state religion of the Ki settlements. It became increasingly popular to view Outbreak not as the result of a biological weapon, but as the earths own immune system rejecting the human 'virus'. Reports increasingly circulated of witchcraft and even human sacrifice, and Ki settlements, which had once traded freely with the outside world officially shut their borders. It was against this backdrop that the 'annexing' of Ki settlements began in AO17 by an increasingly militant Foundationist Brotherhood, concerned at the 'UnGodly' actions of its leaders. While there were several months of bloody guerilla warfare, the vastly superior numbers, training, and weaponry (not to mention religious zeal) of the Foundationist forces disbanded the Gardens central committe, maintaining a puppet government over the settlements.
Outbreak and Independence
Following Second Outbreak and the subsequent breakdown of civilization, The Garden found themsevles free once more. Having been founded as unconnected autonomous colonies far from civilization they were the faction least affected by the spread of infection. With the Foundationist forces retreating to secure their borders (and with the occupation having been largely symbolic also) the Garden quickly reverted to their previous way of life, indeed if anything the invasion strengthened their religious fervour. Rousseau's original dream of an idyllic pastoral workshop became increasingly incongruous with the Gaian Acolytes, and Xi Shi Zhou, or 'Earthmother' as she now termed herself was unquestionably the dominant voice in Ki society. Appointed Tribal Elders superceded the previous radical democracy of Garden
settlements, with religion an increasingly powerful controlling influence.
The Garden Withers
With the formation of the Foundationists into the Empire of Solomon, The Garden as it had existed ceased to be. A brutal pogrom was enacted by the Empire on all 'heathen' factions, with all Ki settlements being offered the choice of conversion and repatriation into Solomon society, or death. Ki settlements were systematically wiped out as the Empire spread ever outwards, and what remained of the Ki council fled into the wilderness.
There they remained, to all intents a primitive and defeated people. In the subsequent Conspiracy of the Three States which overthrew the Empire, former Ki citizens took on a relatively minor role due to the small numbers that remained. Rousseau had died in exile, and although Zhou led a fierce band of warriors in the fighting, there was little left to reclaim. In the peace accords drawn up, The Garden of Ki were officially recognised as one of the newly independent states, but this was as much a symbolic gesture of the brutality done to them by the Empire than a serious appraisal of their continuance as a nation. Zhou disappeared once hostilities ceased, and with her the last remnants of the Garden vanished. It should be noted that though the Ki settlements no longer exist, much of the philosophy they were built around - respect for the earth, settlement autonomy etc. has become guiding principle in the rebuilding of the New World. Rousseau's ideals live on even if he does not.
