John Gardiner

The founder and leader of the Garden, where you grew up. Now in his eighties but still lively and strong, you've known John Gardiner from childhood. He's never been a warm man; he's always been more focused on making sure the Garden survives at any cost, and if possible, thrives. In that, he's found a measure of success.

Physical Description
Gardiner is on the tall side of average height, though old age has shrunken him a bit. His head is bald but he keeps a tight-cropped white beard. His eyes are a striking blue and his face is weathered by years of difficulty. He usually wears a warm green army jacket and jeans.

History
John Gardiner was in his thirties when the end came and already accustomed to hard times from the Decade of Descent. He was a Free States army lieutenant, and used that command experience to lead a group of friends and family safely through the End. He doesn't talk much about that time.

It became clear that things were never going to go back to the way they were. Gardiner new he had to lead his group someplace safe, and he built up a vision of a safe place, isolated and self-sufficient, where they could settle and grow. Gardiner spent two years poring over his maps and leading scouting missions to find a suitable location.

Finally he found the perfect place -- an old mining camp above above an abandoned town. The town was out of the way, far from main roads, and had water, farmland, and even a few cattle roaming free. The mining camp huddled under a steep mountain and had access by two steep, rocky roads. It was easily defensible, even by a small number of people. The camp itself had some buildings in good condition that could quickly be converted to living and storage space.

So it was that John Gardiner led his small band, along with a few scrawny goats and handfuls of seed, to the Garden. Thanks to his strong leadership, organization, survival sensibilities, and commitment to their children's future, the Garden blossomed.

Known and Supposed Capabilities
Gardiner's main abilities are his keen instincts for keeping the Garden strong and secure. He has an amazing memory with seemingly everything related to farming, animal care, construction, irrigation, defense, and everything else the Garden needs to keep going. He's committed to the new generations born to the Garden and makes sure they grow up healthy, educated, and disciplined. He accomplishes these things through decisive leadership and the great respect he's earned from the Garden's residents.

Known Associates

 * The people of the Garden, including Howard Bilekki, Jason Stiller, and Doctor Gasteau.