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CombatVer. 1.3.1
Corruption is a state of a magic item where one or more of its component enchantments have been altered or removed improperly, causing the item to behave in unpredictable and potentially dangerous ways.
The most common way an artifact becomes corrupted is a failed attempt to disenchant or change its effects. Fully neutralizing a magic item requires removing each of its component enchantments individually. If done in the incorrect order, or if the attempt to do so goes wrong, the artifact can be left in a "limbo" state where the remaining components are still active and cause unexpected behavior.
Very complex artifacts can also become corrupted as a result of flaws in their original design, or when subjected to conditions not accounted for by the artificer.
The GM decides how a corrupted magic item's effects change relative to its intended ones. For example, a mage attempts to disenchant an amulet of Unknowability, but fails and accidentally removes the Trigger component leaving the other three components in place. The amulet may now erase the memories of anyone who approaches the wearer immediately, or possibly even those who get near it without even putting it on. This is just one example of how corrupted items should be regarded as extremely dangerous until proven otherwise.
The safest way to neutralize a corrupted artifact is to finish disenchantment properly if possible, or otherwise destroy the item. It is possible to repair corruption, but this should only be attempted by highly-skilled artificers as failure to perform the repair properly can cause further corruption.
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