MagiStream

hlep.

I've done a bunch of the quests except for the final step towards getting into the shop. I tend to stop the moment they indicate they'd like me to pay for an initiation.
Which shop? I have literally no preference.

Considering the artificer shop because there's no breedable creatures

If you're still struggling, roll a die... if you don't like the result you get, that'll point you towards something you DO want. (Decision paralysis is real!)