Serek had scarcely gone into slumber, but already something was deeply amiss. From his other-self in Reket he already knew what it was. Graug was loose in Shezmu! The god of blood had gone seeking war and thought it would stay safely contained away from home, but it had found him! His people were left alone at the mercy of Graug and her brutes. The encounter upon Reket had proven that they couldn't face those children of war head on, not yet, perhaps not ever if Graug continued her single minded pursuit of war.

What would Serek awaken to? A world of cinders and ash? How far would this war go? How great were Graug's appetites for destruction and despair? These thought made Serek toss and turn restlessly in his sleep. They were enough to stir him, if he let them. Even in slumber, a god still had options.

Exert His Will: Serek could call upon his powers to aide his children while he himself slept. Tendrils of blood could become animate, the trees, brush and undergrowth of Shezmu would become animate and hostile. Nights of the Hunt would become increasingly common. The realm itself would fight back against these invaders. This would not be enough to win the war, but it would help. It would also come at a cost. Shezmu would be exhausted from the efforts, it meant there would be no souls for a long while.
Effect: Shezmu itself will oppose Graug and her armies. No souls will be generated for the entirety of the new Era.

Awaken: The natural order said Serek must sleep, but Serek could rouse himself, break the cycle and force himself to awaken. The new age would be pushed back and he'd fully rouse himself to action. But this would come at a heavy cost, he'd be weakened. Some of the weakness would pass given time, but another would remain permanently.
Effect: Awaken immediately, lower two of your stats by 1 point, they will recover to their full value on 10/15/22. Also cap one of your stats. It is now stunted and will not be able to increase for the rest of Serek's existence.

Let Events Unfold as They Will: Or Serek could choose to remain in his slumber and let this war play out as it would without his interference. His quick mind already knew this would lead to a steep price. But every option had negatives. In war there were always costs to be paid. This was a lesson Graug was teaching well.

Restlessness consumed the God of Blood as the ghosts of war haunted his waking sleep. The echoes of their cries and blood hissed in Serek Eztli's divine essence as disturbance was felt across his counter-part, Shezmu. Having witnessed the culprit, the Lord of Blood was wrong to think he was safe from Graug's cool smile and outlook. It was War after all, he and his people would not remain untouched. Of course the divine would open their realm to him in their confidence that they could pry the borders down to seige his own. Caught like a rat in a trap was he and now his flock and children would have to pay that price?

Serek Eztli was left as he slumbered with what choices to make regarding this act. Shezmu had already been conquered by the Guise and himself, there was no doubt that even in a hyperactive attack and defense that at the least it would be no proper challenge to Graug's raw strength. The God of War would march across his realm and any of her people would follow behind as they faced the challenges of his realm's blood.

The Guise needed time to be able to rise and meet the challenge of War, leaving them to handle it was the worst possible scenario. Serek could not sleep well knowing that as he rested, his children would be torn asunder. That left the God of Blood with only one last option. To stir himself awake and put off the new Era for now. He had a waking nightmare to fend off. Though, Serek could tell that this action was not meant to happen. There would be consequences for this as well, the cost would be reaped from his divine being and potential. Not fully rested meant that he would not be in full strength. A risk he would have to take to not see Shezmu torn apart.

Grasping through the blood and dirt, his bleeding muscles and talons ripped through to Awaken from slumbering within his grave. Serek Eztli would come to the Guise's protection and meet Graug in War upon the homelands of Shezmu.

-1 to Will & Essence until 10/15/22, Permanent Stat Cap of 4 for Acumen. This was a very hard choice ;~;