One thing I didn’t expect from the city was food carts. They are everywhere. I was enjoying some delicious sausage and some lovely tea-like drink. The culture was alive and well here. I could appreciate that at least. Walking the main road that leads from the outer walls to the castle I soon found myself in line to enter the Shimmer Ward. I kept looking for any of the six but nothing so far. The Crownsguard is watching everyone and everywhere. About 20 of them protect the gates to the Shimmer Ward. I can count another 10 in guard towers along the road. There was more high on the wall.

My perception of my environment was turned to 11. Nothing escaped my eyes. That includes the ones I have hidden on my body. This is why when I saw Zenix barreling towards me I dodged. Well, I tried to. The dragonborn woman took her hugs seriously and I was grabbed by the side of my shirt and wrapped into a hug.

“Hahaha! You almost got away. Means you have been keeping up with your training,” Zenix said.

“I have done a lot since then,” I said. She was squeezing me tightly. I was lucky she didn’t have the breastplate on right now.

“How have you been? Tell me everything,” Zenix said.

“I have been well. I have gained a great deal of raw power now. I have also been practicing with some more esoteric forms. I will tell you all when we get together,” I said.

We walked for a bit towards the gate. I was wondering what she was doing as we were skipping the line. She flashed something at a guard and we were let through. Some kind of badge or crest. Are they working for some kind of noble? God's help I don’t need to get involved in some empire conspiracy.

We entered the ward unmolested. This is the center of all wealth within the Empire. Every building is beautifully maintained by enchantments or spellcraft. Parks around every corner with a statue of some Hero or important figure. For all its history, for the years of building and the growth of a great culture, I now understand the empire at its heart. Here is where the mages and arcane practitioners of the Age of Arcanum survive. The once-great flying cities and numerous magical innovations were all destroyed during the Calamity. The population of the world was reduced to practically a single city and some scattered settlements. Once the wizards challenged divinity and attempted to become gods and then they were reduced to ash. Those that survived built here. Despite all the control the Crown has this district reveals the truth. The Cerberus Assembly has the empire by the throat and it is only the efforts of the Crown and the Cobalt Soul that prevent this empire from being a magocracy.

I need antimagic. Other than the Aeorian creatures I need other sources. Beholders could create a field that prevented all magic within a line of sight from their central eye. I will check to see if any others have this ability. Rakshasas are immune to all lower-level spells. That is a good place to start. I will need to check if I can permanently kill a fiend first. Rakshasas are vengeful creatures so I need to be careful. Morkoths also have spell reflection effects. I know of one the Nein kill. I could help them with that. As much as I don’t want to do it I might need to journey into the underdark. I know just the place too.

“You okay Edsom? You seem to be brooding a bit,” Zenix said.

“I was? Sorry, I was having some dark thoughts for a second. Just some creatures whose abilities I want,” I said.

“Anything we can help with?” Zenix asked.

“Maybe,” I said. We had reached the Hofbräu. It was a beautiful place. It had an inner courtyard where people could come and unload their belongings from carriages. The building was 4 stories tall. The roof seemed to have a small lounging area. Flowers were planted along the pathways into the building and lastly, the smell of honey filled the air.

“We have been renting the 4th floor. The others are waiting let's go,” Zenix said.

“You guys must have earned a great deal if you are renting a whole floor,” I said.

“I’ll tell you a secret. I am filthy rich,” Zenix said.

“You are? How rich?” I ask.

“Incredibly,” Zenix said.

We walked through the tavern and reached the fourth floor. Zenix opened the door and I entered into the most expensive room I had ever been in. They must have had cantrips built into the room somehow because it was actually air-conditioned. I hadn’t been in an air-conditioned room in months. I had forgotten the feeling.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

The other 5 jumped up at my arrival.

“Yoo,” Lepine said.

“We meet again young shapeshifter,” Abaxis said.

“Finally. I have been wanting to see what you could do with a little experience under your belt,” Carmilla said.

“Good to see you,” Devin said.

The others had all said something but Folin said nothing. Just looked at me. I stared back smiling. “What the matter Mr.Lucky? Cat got your tongue,” I said and created cat ears for myself. I meowed.

“Ugh. Hello Edsom,” Folin said.

“Okay everyone before we begin there is something I have been meaning to ask you all for a while now. What the hell is your group name?” I asked.

“Oh, I can answer that. We are Fortuitous Formation. It was lucky we all met so we named the moment we all did,” Lupine said.

“Good. So hello again Fotuitous Formation. What have y’all been up to?” I asked.

“Oh boy that's a long one,” Lupine said.

“We stopped a few guild heads from being assassinated,” Carmilla said.

“Located a missing child that had been kidnapped by a hag,” Carmilla said.

“We had some issues with my family. Not getting into that,” Abaxis said.

“Folin got a venereal disease,” Devin said.

“HEY!” Folin yelled.

“Been an eventful few weeks. How about you?” Carmilla said.

“Well, I fought a hag in her swamp. That sucked. Met some members of the Claret Orders. They were nice. Got a really cool magic item. Saw your magic shop friend. Raided a sunken temple for a small amount of loot. Joined the Revelry and hooked up with a pirate captain to hunt a Roc. On the way to do that I killed a sea serpent and got some loot from their lair. Killed the Roc and then attacked a corrupt shore warden for the pirate and killed a bunch of cultists at the same time,” I said.

“Gods. You have been as busy as us,” Lupine said.

“Yup. I am happy about the Roc form. It let me cut down the travel time to simply less than two days. A sea serpent is a type of dragon. I got a breath weapon and I don’t feel the cold anymore,” I said.

“What! That's so cool. I wanna be a real dragon,” Zenix said.

“Aren’t you already halfway there?” Folin said

“Being a dragonborn is not the same. We are nowhere near as strong and our ties to our elemental type aren’t as good. I have wanted to be a dragon since I was a little girl. It's why I exercise so much. So that when we meet a real dragon I can beat them in arm wrestling,” Zenix said.

“That's ambitious. I have you guys know I have snuck into a few libraries since we last met. If you want to kill a dragon I am sure I can help you find one. But that will have to be for later. I have actually called you guys because I want to offer something,” I said.

“Will there be gold?” Lupine asked.

“Will there be booze?” Carmilla asked.

“Will it be dangerous?” Devin asked.

“Yes, maybe, and definitely. I want to hunt some creatures of unusual power. There are reports of creatures that live in the ruins of Aeor that possess powerful anti-magical abilities. I want those powers. I may be immune to the cold now but I am not stupid enough to hunt in that place by myself. Also, there are a lot of powerful creatures up there I want to take a crack at,” I said

The group was silent. They did this a lot when I was with them on the coast. I think Abaxis has the telepathic bond spell. That dude seemed to have a lot of spells. They must be having a small conversation right now.

“I want to go,” Zenix said.

“I do too,” Lupine said.

“It’s too dangerous,” Devin said.

“Sure but so is everything else we do. We aren’t busy why not,” Zenix said.

“Not the point. We don’t run head-first into danger,”

“Yes we do,” Carmilla said.

“Not helping,” Folin said.

“Wasn’t trying too,” Carmilla said and stuck her tongue out at him.

“I have some knowledge of the region. There is also an outpost there that the Cerberus Assembly runs. I feel confident about exploring the region, especially since I can turn into a big ass bird,” I said.

“Can you give us some time before we decide,” Devin said.

“Sure. I do have another place I need to go to if you want something less dangerous,” I said.

“Go ahead,” Abaxis said.

“I was tasked with finding a creature with the ability to planeshift. There is a greater nightmare in the Savalirwood that has the power. To find it I would need to find a hunter that can help me find it. Uthodurn might have some. I need to do either but I really only need the help with exploring Aeor,” I said.

“We will discuss this,” Abaxis said more to the others than to me.

“Alright enough of that lets get shit-faced,” Zenix said.

And so we left for the bar. I was told that Hofbräu meant something like Royal Brewery. I guess they earned that name as the mead here was delicious. We drank, we danced, I threw up in a pond in the back. Joy and merriment were had. I ended up sleeping at the Inn with them.

…………

“Rubert I need help searching for some abilities. Things with resistance against magic or antimagic. I am getting too paranoid about the Cerberus Assembly and other shit. The best way for me to deal with it is through personal defenses,” I said.

“If you want to be a caster's worst damn nightmare boss you need to hunt the Aeorian Nullifer. It has numerous abilities that are good against magic. Also once you get planeshift your options are expanded greatly. I couldn’t find much information about this place called Sigil but it has been referenced indirectly in one of the one-shot adventures. Your memories say that Sigil is a huge place with thousands of different creatures,” Rubert said.

“I had forgotten that. I wouldn’t mind heading to Golorian either. There are a bunch of creatures there. Not to mention weird future shit in some places. Thank you Rubert I might need to consider that. It's dangerous so I might need to consult some archmages about planar travel. Now for a slight tangent. Let's look at all the information on Genies. I want to know the requirements for their casting of wish.