In appearance: a largish, metal-bound chest which is capable of extruding a large number of little legs to help it move about. It is made of Sapient Pearwood, a magical timber which can cause its constucts to portray characteristics similar to that set of characteristics known 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 its 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 a self-propelled travel accessory and bodyguard, one of the set of characteristics known as 'life' is a particular characteristic known as 'faithfulness' and another 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 as 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 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 maked by debris, people who get nervous at the sound of hurrying footsteps, and communities who are unusually polite to strangers.