Intelligent artifacts are those that have special usage requirements. In order to safely use them, you must: * be of the same alignment as the artifact * be of the same role as the artifact (if it is a quest artifact) * have non-negative alignment Otherwise, you will be blasted by the artifact, sustain 4d10 damage (2d10 if you have magic resistance), and abuse your wisdom. If you are of the wrong role, and fail any of the other conditions above, then a quest artifact will "evade your grasp", and you will not be able to touch it. Intelligent artifacts have a chance of resisting curses.