Pepperseed, bug or unknown mechanic

I've been wanting an hour and fifteen minutes for phase 2 to start for Pepperseed escort. It hasn't reset to phase 1. Not sure if its a bug or there is something that needs to be met before it starts that no one has told us. I tried stocking a bunch of supplies in the supply pile incase that was it. Bug Or is there some other factor to get it going we dont know about.

Stocking supplies into the Forge Supplies is not related to the Pepperseed event. That only completes the Heart quest.

Pepperseed's actual event chain starts at one of a handful of locations around Hundar's Pike and Dredgeways. This event will involve escorting Pepperseed to Symphony's Heaven.

As for the second part, I have yet to confirm it, but you may have to complete Exalted Wasmaa's event at Melody's Rest before Pepperseed will start his second journey back to the keep.

It's bugged, he block at some random location with event always indicate active

It is bugged again today on the only currently active EU map. We killed the Branded Forgotten and the Exalted came to join us at the camp. However, she remains inert and Pepperseed is cowering in fear, while his dolyak is stuck in the supply collector. No progress possible. :/

Also, if you manage to start the event with the dropped supplies somehow, Sunflower drops only seven supplies, making the achievement impossible to get. Had this happen several times in a row yesterday before I gave up on it...

This happened in small groups as well as in large groups, Sunflower was definitely hit by the Branded enogh during the escort. Is there maybe another mechanic to this event I'm missing?