IN> ...huh.

[Whistling in the Dark]

Every so often, you have a moment of surprise. To put in Ob.IN  
content, I should mention that the *Word* of Surprise is hotly  
contested in Heaven. The last holder of Surprise was a Creationer who  
was unfortunately slain by a pack of Djinn. Said Creationer led them  
down an alleyway near to a bar frequented by the Sword, so as his last  
Forces were melting into nothingness, he saw the black wings swoop and  
the Djinn scream, and murmured his Word before vanishing forevermore.

In today's political climate, Surprise is largely being contested by  
War and the Wind, though the Seraphim Council is in part deadlocked  
because the more Peaceful faction wants to hold the Word in reserve  
for less violent purpose.

In Hell, of course, the Demon of Surprise works for the Game. I'd tell  
you who it is, but I'd hate to ruin it for you.

But that is just obligatory. In doing research and followup for an  
essay I wrote, I'm rereading old Dragon Magazines. Dozens of them. Old  
friends, from the early 1980s, when I was young and so was roleplaying.

So it is that I happened to be reading Dragon #82 -- February 1984 --  
and on page 65 there is a powerful and evocative story called  
"Windwolf."

Written, as it works out, by one "Earl S. Wajenberg."

Surprise indeed....