For many years, Little Lockford's defenses were overseen by the Artificer Tixie Taffebeser Tockworth, a brilliant but obsessive inventor whose Artificial Infusions helped Little Lockford withstand repeated threats from monsters, raiders, and predators from the Deepways. Over time, Tockworth's work became increasingly secretive and disturbing. She withdrew from public life and began replacing portions of her own body with mechanical components fashioned in her workshop in Smoldertown. The other rock Gnome artificers and guild leaders attempted to intervene after Tockworth's behavior became erratic. Reports spread of strange outbursts, sleeplessness, and long conversations with unseen companions.
Mayor Zamzu Quickzipper Ukkem Zapp Mulberry Kreem ordered the militia to investigate and, if necessary, shut down Tockworth's workshop, but his attempt failed. Tixie's repaired Shield Guardian stationed outside the workshop drove the militia back, and soon afterward she ordered her Clockwork Constructs to attack the town. The resulting incident, called the Big Little Lockford Lockdown, threw Little Lockford into chaos. Constructs turned on miners, guards, and civilians throughout the districts while observers hunted survivors through the streets. Mayor Kreem organized the town into a retreat through nearby tunnels and caverns beyond the city gates.
Many rock gnomes died during the retreat, particularly in Old Lockford and Turbine Heights where militia forces attempted to hold back the constructs long enough for civilians to escape. Once the evacuation was complete, the gnomes sealed the gates of Little Lockford with powerful magic to prevent the automatons from escaping into the Deepways. In the weeks that followed, the exiles established a temporary encampment outside the settlement and searched desperately for outside aid. During that time, Tockworth remained inside the city, continuing her mechanical transformation while her creations reigned over the abandoned streets.
The survivors eventually learned that Tockworth had built a fail-safe device into her workshop that could disable the constructs permanently, provided someone could recover the security key required to activate it. The Mayor would have to turn to outside Adventurers for help in shutting down Tockworth's Clockworks.