The Closed Gates is a period of time between Anno 261 NP and Anno 280 NP where Tier V was quarantined. Many died of Fever, and many died of starvation. The food supplied by the inner city was inadequate, and those who queued all day for bread often came home empty handed.
The horrors witnessed pushed the people to breaking point, and in Anno 275 NP a peaceful protest turned violent after the City Guard opened fire. The resulting week became known as The Seven Days, notorious as being among the bloodiest event in all of Solace's history.