I think the main reason that Falen knows so much about the Iron Gate and its Construct is that one of Lord Max's hobbies is the study of constructs both mundane and magical. Falen learned a lot about Bluffside's moving gate construct during late night conversation with his mentor. Lord Max is bit obsessed with the
Great Gate Construct and tends to believe everything he 'uncovers' about it. If he finds out that Falen actually witnessed the gate being opened, he will be very jealous.
The last time the Iron Gate was opened was when the city was under siege from the Underearth from an army of morlocks. (Morlocks replace the drow in Kulan's underdark.) During the
Morlock Siege, the Iron Gate was opened to allow the Palace Guards and Regulars from Old City's barracks to get to the walls surrounding the Old City Rift quickly. The morlocks tried to use the Great Gate Construct as a ladder to Bluffside. They also invaded parts of the Undercity during siege and carried off animals, goods, and even people into the Underearth. The history of that war says that the morlocks were stopped before they reached Old City, but many years ago Lord Max uncovered documents that state that there was a running battle against the morlocks in the streets of the district itself.
(Note: I haven't decided exactly how long ago the siege was but it will be more than 65 years ago.)
Falen already knew all the following information about the Iron Gate and its Construct that Sergeant Herleva spoke aloud in the street in front of the Gate of Scales:
Knightfall said:
"The Great Gate Construct was built generations ago by the steam gnomes. At first, it was merely a curiosity and barely moved at all. Over time, the gnomes and the Wizard Council enhanced it to be able to perform more complex movements. It used to stand in the center of The Grand Gallery in front of the Palace. It was moved into the Old City Rift for maintenance and never came out again. Morlocks tried to invade Bluffside through the rift and after they were repelled, the Construct was repurposed to stand guard near the top of the rift and open the Iron Gate."
Falen knows that the construction of the Great Gate Construct included not only steam gnomes, but also the Wizard Council of Bluffside. Dwarves were also pivotal in its creation and eventual integration into the Iron Gate. It is true that a version of the construct once stood in the Grand Gallery but, the construct that exists now in the Old City Rift isn't the exact same creation that once stood proudly in front of the Palace of Bluffside. The original
Palace Construct was almost completely destroyed during the siege and pieces of it were repurposed to create the Great Gate Construct. The Palace Construct was created around the same time that the construction of Old City was completed
(The original Palace Construct might be partially based on the construct of Warforged, which exist on Kulan. The Great Gate Construct isn't sentient, but Lord Max 'believes' the original one was sentient.)
The gate has never been opened again since (as far as anyone knows, but Lord Max 'believes' otherwise). The tunnels the morlocks had used to reach Old City under the rift either collapsed during the ten-day siege or were sealed off afterwards. There are parts of the Undercity beneath Old City that are also sealed off or restricted to The Five (and their most trusted allies).
Falen knows the Iron Gate is considered vital to Bluffside's inner defenses, and that it's, typically, only opened during political ceremonies or in times of great crisis. (It's the former that makes Lord Max believe the Iron Gate has been opened since the time of the Morlock Siege.) Otherwise, the Iron Gate remains closed by the order of The Five! Lord Max once told him that he certain there is a secret way through the Iron Gate that doesn't include using the Construct to open it. More than likely there is a secret passage from Riftwatch to the barracks on the other side. Lord Max isn't
completely sure it exists, but he thinks it is a logical idea.
Falen also knows that only The Five can give the order to open the Iron Gate, although it hasn't always been the case. For it to be opened means that either someone gave the order without The Five's blessing or the crisis in Bluffside is spiraling out of control. (Falen has no way of knowing at this point.) It used to be that the Head of the Bluffside Regulars could order the Iron Gate to be opened. Currently, Lord Commander Oakfirst holds that position. There used to be only
one Lord Commander but now there are more than a dozen that hold the title of Lord Commander. Lord Max thinks this is why The Five restricted anyone else from being able to open the Iron Gate. It is a symbol of military stability but also of political will.
Think of it like a Roman General
crossing the Rubicon and bringing his troops into Rome. It's not something you do if you want to stay on the good side of the senate, although Bluffside doesn't have a
true senate. There are
The Five -- the Great Noble Families that rule the city but are merchant lords not monarchs. There is the
Adamantine Security Council that has only one charge: ensure the safety of the adamantine within the Mining District. There is the
Wizard Council, which holds sway over the Wizard District and its dealings with the government. There are the various religions of the Temple District with the
Twelve Gods of Bluffside being the most key. There is the
Inner Sanctum of the Vault, which has absolute control over all adamantine trade that leaves the city through sea routes. There are the guards of the
Bluffside Regulars and
The Elites who stand above them, as well as the scouts and wilderness warriors of the
Bluffside Mountain Rangers. And, there are many adventurers who call Bluffside home; most of them retired either by choice or due to trauma.
All of these groups play a part in the power structure of Bluffside,
but only a member of The Five can order the Iron Gate to be opened. At least, that's what The Five insist and want the citizens of Bluffside to believe to be true!
