The Luggage
In appearance: a largish, metal-bound chest
which is capable of extruding a large number of little legs, ending in horny-nailed,
calloused feet, to help it move about. It is made of SAPIENT PEARWOOD, a magical timber
which can cause its constructs to portray characteristics similar to that set of
characteristics know as "life". Pearwood constructions can be set to do small
tasks, such as carry water or guard property. Since it is a magical substance sapient
pearwood is impervious to magic, and in the STO PLAINS is much sought after for the
manufacture of wizards' staffs, since it's capacity for storing magic is up to ten times
greater than that of other leading timbers. In the case of the Luggage, built to serve as
self-propelled travel accessory and bodyguard, one of the set of characteristics known as
"life" is a particular characteristic known as "faithfulness" and
another is one known as "murderous intent". When it opens its lid - often in
order to snap it hard on something it considers to be threatening its owner - the luggage
may reveal clean laundry, or a king's ransom in gold. As often as not, though, it displays
teeth like bleached beechwood and a tongue as large as a palm leaf and red as mahogany.
Although it has a keyhole, it cannot be opened when it is in a locked mood. The Luggage
will follow its owner everywhere. The word is an absolute - everywhere. One use
for sapient pearwood in the AGATEAN EMPIRE - where it is quite common - used to be the
manufacture of grave goods that the dead could be certain of taking with them. The Luggage
is currently owned, or at least chooses to follow, the wizard RINCEWIND (whereabouts
unknown). Its progress across the Disc is marked by debris, people who get nervous at the
sound of hurrying footsteps, and communities who are unusually polite to strangers. No
other item in the entire chronicle of travel accessories has quite such a history of
mystery and grievous bodily harm.