Usable by all classes. A magical broom is a bundle of straw bristles bound together at the end of a wooden handle. Unless otherwise specified, a broom is 5 feet in total length, and any attempt to use it as a melee weapon destroys it. By default, a broom must be grasped to be used; holding a broom precludes making the gestures that accompany spellcasting.
Level 2. At the command of the user, this broom grows arms for carrying objects. The broom can carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds. It follows the user at his own ground movement rate until it is grasped and deactivated. Every turn it is activated, there is a 5% chance that the broom goes out of control, running away from the user at a rate of 15". If the broom runs away, it will continue running for 2D4 hours before halting and deactivating itself, or until the user manages to catch up to it and grasp it.
Level 3. The user can activate this broom once per day. When activated, the broom becomes animated. It sweeps away all filth within 6" of the user in 2D8 rounds. (The area within 1" of the user will be swept clear in the first round.) The area swept is subject to the shape of rooms and to obstacles such as walls, closed doors, etc. Any insects, molds, slimes, or other unintelligent scavengers of less than 4 hit dice are also swept out of the area, and may not return for 24 hours. The broom can sweep only flat firm surfaces, such as floors or paved areas, and has no effect on anything else in the area. Upon completing its task, the broom returns to the user if he is still within 6" and reverts to its inanimate state.
Level 1. Burnout 10%. When the bristles are lit, this broom gives off a display of fireworks clearly visible to everyone within line of sight for a distance of 120". The bristles can be lit by any contact with natural or magical fire. The fireworks continue for 3D6 rounds, so long as the user continues to hold the broom. After this, the fire extinguishes itself, leaving the broom reusable. Burnout for this item is literally true.
Level 2. If the user sits astride this broom as he would a horse, he may command it to fly him around at a rate of 18". To control the broom, the user must keep both hands on the handle, so he is unable to carry items in his hands while flying. The broom can carry up to 200 pounds, including the weight of the user. (If he weighs more than this, the broom is unable to carry him.)
Level 1. When the user grasps this broom and attempts to sweep, his speed is increased, enabling him to sweep away centipedes, spiders, and other unintelligent scavengers of less than 3 hit dice with ease. If the user spends an entire round sweeping, he can move up to 3", and no such creatures are able to attack him. If he has the broom in hand, he can also sweep away any magical dust in whose area of effect he is included before it can affect him.
Level 3. This broom combines the abilities of the Animated, Flying, and Sweeping Brooms. When using the Animated Broom power, this broom never goes out of control. Of course, this item can only use one of the abilities at a time.
Last Modified on September 25,1995.
ammulder@princeton.edu