Episode 6 - Of Sea and Stone

GM
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## Recurring NPCs

Pepper

Through the alleys of Sayrem, a monstrous creature, unlike any seen before, is running through the shadows of the night. The Grimm-direwolf is still holding one of the Keepers that tried to capture it between its jaws, and still on its back is a gravely injured Professor. The Professor manages to put the beast into a trance, as he has done before, allowing the Keeper to escape before being devoured. As he runs, the sound of a gunshot cuts through the air. Pretty Baby cannot allow the Keeper to report back to Sault.

Vee–who, together with Pashmina, has also caught up–is conflicted about the kill. Pashmina acknowledges Vee's struggle and points to their wounded friend. Vee turns from the shot-down Keeper and attends to the Professor's wounds.

Without Pretty Baby, the three others carefully maneuver the Grimm through the district to the location the Professor had received from Pepper. They are greeted by two non-human figures, Esther and Ally, members of the Hidden. They take the wolf away to a safe, secret location. With his task complete, the Professor finally allows himself to rest, passing out on the spot.

After the three return to Rail Care, Vee and Pashmina discuss the, to Pashmina, novel and exciting experience of the adventure and Pashmina's concerns about being recognized by their new enemies. Vee also thanks Pashmina for her support in Vee's moment of crisis.

Meanwhile, Pretty Baby has returned to the scene of their skirmish with the Keepers, the churchyard in Taylor's Way. While the Keepers are questioning the occasional passer-by, they don't appear to have any leads to the Rail Care crew. Satisfied, Pretty Baby returns home as well.

Catching up with Vee, Pretty Baby reveals a dagger with magical runes he has managed to grab during their fight with the Keepers. Uncertain what to do with it, they decide to simply keep it safe for now. Their previous discussion on the necessity of killing also comes to a close as Vee, now swayed by Pashmina words as well, accepts Pretty Baby's actions.

The calm and sunny day that begins under the Shattered Sky shows no signs of the previous night's troubles. Eventually, the Professor awakes and immediately begins furiously writing down his thoughts. While taking care of him, Vee asks him about Sault. Without going into much detail, the Professor reveals that Sault and he had been close, as they had traveled together for ten years.

Pretty Baby also intends to check up on the Professor, however, on his way, he senses that he is being followed. To misguide his unseen stalker, he takes a detour to the cannery of the Red Dogs, before arriving at the Professor's.

Again, the Professor is asked about Sault and he decides to gather the whole group. He reveals that Sault was the love of his life. Together, they investigated a series of Ozar kidnappings. On board a ship that was part of the kidnappings, the two of them hid inside a shipping crate. The ship sank and the Professor awoke, badly injured, on shore. Neither he nor Sault looked for the other. Now, the Professor believes Sault to be too great a threat to be left alive. He intends to eventually confront him, ask him one last question, and then kill him. The group decides that, for the moment, it is best to keep the Professor out of view of Sault and the Keepers and to contact Pepper and the Hidden again for further possible information and support.

In Warren Station, the Professor lets Pashmina enter Pepper's store first to open up a dialogue. Already annoyed by the Professor's recent visits and requests, Pepper is not pleased seeing Pashmina either and briefly lets her experience the feeling of her petrifying gaze. The Professor joins the conversation. Pepper informs him that Sault has been in the city for the last ten years, about as long as him. While Pepper is wary of attracting the attention of the Keepers herself, she wants to aid her visitors, as their interests align. She agrees to pass on their request to contact the Hidden, but has no further information about the Keepers or the House of Broken Glass at this point.

Meanwhile, Vee and Pretty Baby are on their way to the Midnight Market in Blinkhollow. The latter is curious about the former's venomous bite and possible other applications for it. Discussing strategy further, they also consider the powers of magical weapons such as the rope the Keeper's used on the Grimm, Sault's dagger, and possible options to counter magic. Fortunately, Pretty Baby knows just the right person to talk to about such things.