diff --git a/Source/monster.cpp b/Source/monster.cpp
index 8291a30d8..965ee9e68 100644
--- a/Source/monster.cpp
+++ b/Source/monster.cpp
@@ -4480,7 +4480,8 @@ Monster *PreSpawnSkeleton()
 
 void TalktoMonster(Player &player, Monster &monster)
 {
-	monster.mode = MonsterMode::Talk;
+	if (&player == MyPlayer)
+		monster.mode = MonsterMode::Talk;
 
 	if (monster.uniqueType == UniqueMonsterType::SnotSpill
 	    && Quests[Q_LTBANNER].IsAvailable() && Quests[Q_LTBANNER]._qvar1 == 2) {
diff --git a/Source/objects.cpp b/Source/objects.cpp
index 6ea5708d6..95b3a8648 100644
--- a/Source/objects.cpp
+++ b/Source/objects.cpp
@@ -2099,8 +2099,8 @@ void OperateChamberOfBoneBook(Object &questBook, bool sendmsg)
 		Quests[Q_SCHAMB]._qmsg = textdef;
 		NetSendCmdQuest(true, Quests[Q_SCHAMB]);
 		NetSendCmdLoc(MyPlayerId, false, CMD_OPERATEOBJ, questBook.position);
+		InitQTextMsg(textdef);
 	}
-	InitQTextMsg(textdef);
 }
 
 void OperateChest(const Player &player, Object &chest, bool sendLootMsg)
@@ -3213,7 +3213,8 @@ void OperateBookcase(Object &bookcase, bool sendmsg, bool sendLootMsg)
 			zhar.talkMsg = TEXT_ZHAR2;
 			M_StartStand(zhar, zhar.direction); // BUGFIX: first parameter in call to M_StartStand should be MAX_PLRS, not 0. (fixed)
 			zhar.goal = MonsterGoal::Attack;
-			zhar.mode = MonsterMode::Talk;
+			if (sendmsg)
+				zhar.mode = MonsterMode::Talk;
 		}
 	}
 	if (sendmsg)
diff --git a/Source/towners.cpp b/Source/towners.cpp
index 6103ec63a..a877d009a 100644
--- a/Source/towners.cpp
+++ b/Source/towners.cpp
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ void TalkToDeadguy(Player &player, Towner & /*deadguy*/)
 void TalkToBlackSmith(Player &player, Towner &blackSmith)
 {
 	if (Quests[Q_ROCK]._qactive != QUEST_NOTAVAIL) {
-		if (player._pLvlVisited[4] && Quests[Q_ROCK]._qactive != QUEST_DONE) {
+		if ((player._pLvlVisited[4] || player._pLvlVisited[5]) && Quests[Q_ROCK]._qactive != QUEST_DONE) {
 			if (Quests[Q_ROCK]._qvar2 == 0) {
 				Quests[Q_ROCK]._qvar2 = 1;
 				Quests[Q_ROCK]._qlog = true;