“Carpet Of Flying: The Enchanted Tapestry Of Skyward Adventure”

“Soar above mountains and cities on the legendary Carpet of Flying, a magical rug that turns every journey into a breathtaking flight.”

The Carpet of Flying is a magically enchanted textile that grants swift, graceful flight, merging exquisite craftsmanship with subtle elemental magic. Woven with shimmering patterns and braided tassels, each carpet appears delicate yet can carry multiple riders. Originating from eastern kingdoms and desert cultures, these carpets feature in legends of diplomats, scholars, and adventurers traversing mountains, seas, and storms. Folklore hints at carpets vanishing into clouds or responding only to the worthy, making them symbols of freedom, wonder, and the boundless possibilities of the skies.

Appearance

The Carpet of Flying is a masterfully woven textile, rectangular or occasionally circular, adorned with intricate geometric patterns or swirling motifs that seem to shift subtly as light plays across the threads. The fibers shimmer faintly, as if infused with air itself, while thick, braided tassels—sometimes gilded or dyed in deep crimson, emerald, or sapphire—frame its edges. Though delicate in appearance, the carpet is impossibly resilient, feeling both lighter than air and strong enough to bear multiple passengers. Its surface seems almost alive, responding to touch and movement with a whisper of motion.

Origins

The earliest known Carpets of Flying appear in the courts of eastern kingdoms, though some trace their creation to nomadic desert weavers whose families were rumoured to wield elemental air magic. Each carpet is unique, painstakingly enchanted as the threads are woven, a process said to take months or even years. Merchant accounts speak of “flying rugs” arriving from distant lands, treated with awe as divine gifts or instruments of secret alchemy, bridging the mundane and the magical in a way few other objects could.

Stories and Folklore

Legends tell of diplomats who crossed mountains and seas atop a Carpet of Flying, delivering urgent messages in mere hours. One tale recounts a wandering scholar who escaped a besieged city only to vanish into the clouds for three days, returning with knowledge of celestial paths no mortal had charted. Among sailors, carpets are whispered to be trickster allies, capable of summoning sudden winds or whisking away the greedy to distant horizons. Minstrels sing of heroes and rogues riding carpets across kingdoms, weaving freedom and audacity into the tapestry of their deeds.

Mysterious Qualities

The magic of a Carpet of Flying seems intertwined with ritual and intention: blessings murmured over the weave, exposure to rare winds, or intricate symbols traced along its edge. Some respond only to certain riders, recognizing courage, intent, or reverence for the air’s freedom. Observers have claimed the carpets hum softly when aloft, and that their patterns ripple as if alive, even when still. Storms sometimes cause them to vanish entirely, only to reappear days later in distant lands, leaving scholars to wonder whether they slip between realms or follow unseen currents of the sky.

Carpet of Flying 5e 2024
Carpet of Flying, Pathfinder
Carpet of Flying 3.5

Carpet of Flying

Wondrous Item, Rare

Lore & Description

The Carpet of Flying is a masterfully woven magical tapestry, its shimmering threads and intricate patterns seemingly alive with air itself. Historically prized by scholars, merchants, and rulers, these carpets are said to carry the worthy across mountains, seas, and storm-tossed skies. Folklore whispers that some carpets respond only to those with courage or intent, vanishing into clouds or appearing where they are most needed. Beyond its utility, the Carpet of Flying symbolizes freedom, wonder, and the boundless possibilities of aerial adventure.

Abilities

Flight: When commanded, the carpet hovers, ascends, descends, and flies at a speed of 60 feet, directed by weight or verbal command.
Carrying Capacity: Holds up to 400 pounds or three Medium creatures.
Maneuverability: Can make sharp turns, hover in place, or soar above obstacles. Exceptional versions may grant advantages on pursuit or escape maneuvers.
Duration: Magical flight persists as long as the carpet is actively commanded, with no need for concentration.

Potential Uses in Gameplay

Exploration: Traverse mountains, rivers, or dangerous terrain safely and swiftly.
Combat Tactics: Gain aerial advantage or reposition allies rapidly.
Story Hooks: Lost or stolen carpets drive quests, smuggling plots, and diplomatic missions.
Roleplay & Mystery: Carpets may respond selectively to certain characters, providing rich narrative opportunities.

Carpet of Flying

Price: 15,000 gp (Rare) • Aura: Moderate transmutation • CL: 9th
Slot: — • Weight: Varies by size • Caster Level: 9th

Description / Lore

The Carpet of Flying is a masterfully woven magical tapestry, its shimmering threads and braided tassels alive with the power of air. Coveted by merchants, scholars, and rulers, these carpets have carried travelers over mountains, seas, and storm-tossed lands. Folklore suggests that some respond only to the bold or worthy, vanishing into clouds or appearing where destiny demands. Beyond practical use, they embody freedom, wonder, and the awe of flight.

Construction Requirements

Craft Wondrous Item, fly, air walk
Cost: 7,500 gp

Abilities / Mechanics

Flying Speed: Standard 5 ft. × 10 ft. carpet flies at 60 ft. per round; larger or smaller carpets scale proportionally.
Carrying Capacity: Supports up to 400 lbs or three Medium creatures; scaled for larger sizes.
Maneuverability: Can hover, turn sharply, ascend, or descend at will. Masterwork carpets may grant bonuses on Fly or Acrobatics checks.
Activation: Commanded via a word or gesture; requires no concentration.
Special: Some carpets respond only to chosen riders, recognizing courage or intent.

Potential Uses in Gameplay

Exploration: Traverse mountains, rivers, or dangerous terrain safely and quickly.
Combat: Gain aerial advantage, reposition allies, or escape perilous encounters.
Story Hooks: Lost, stolen, or unique carpets can drive quests, intrigue, or smuggling operations.
Roleplay Opportunities: Selective carpets provide narrative puzzles, character tests, and story-driven challenges.

Rarity & Value

Rarity: Rare (commonly found in wealthy courts, scholarly libraries, or desert caravan hubs; very rare elsewhere).
Value: Combines magical utility with artistic and historical significance. Legendary carpets may be considered Very Rare, increasing both monetary and narrative worth.

Carpet of Flying

This material is Open Game Content, and is licensed for public use under the terms of the Open Game License v1.0a.

This rug is able to fly through the air as if affected by an overland flight spell of unlimited duration. The size, carrying capacity, and speed of the different carpets of flying are shown on the table below. Beautifully and intricately made, each carpet has its own command word to activate it- if the device is within voice range, the command word activates it, whether the speaker is on the rug or not. The carpet is then controlled by spoken directions.

Size	Capacity	Speed	Weight	Market Price
5 ft. by 5 ft.	200 lb.	40 ft.	8 lb.	20,000 gp
5 ft. by 10 ft.	400 lb.	40 ft.	15 lb.	35,000 gp
10 ft. by 10 ft.	800 lb.	40 ft.	10 lb.	60,000 gp

A carpet of flying can carry up to double its capacity, but doing so reduces its speed to 30 feet. It has average maneuverability, but a carpet of flying can still Hover.

Moderate transmutation; CL 10th; Craft Wondrous Item, overland flight, permanency.