diff --git a/Scripts/Mobiles/AI/AI/BaseAI.cs b/Scripts/Mobiles/AI/AI/BaseAI.cs
index 5925457a2..4c249c94a 100644
--- a/Scripts/Mobiles/AI/AI/BaseAI.cs
+++ b/Scripts/Mobiles/AI/AI/BaseAI.cs
@@ -2501,7 +2501,7 @@ namespace Server.Mobiles
 						continue;
 
 					// Ignore players with activated honor
-					if ( m is PlayerMobile && ( (PlayerMobile)m ).HonorActive )
+					if ( m is PlayerMobile && ( (PlayerMobile)m ).HonorActive && !( m_Mobile.Combatant == m ))
 						continue;
 					
 					if( acqType == FightMode.Aggressor || acqType == FightMode.Evil )
diff --git a/Scripts/Mobiles/AI/Creature/BaseCreature.cs b/Scripts/Mobiles/AI/Creature/BaseCreature.cs
index e978dcd60..a61c8da5c 100644
--- a/Scripts/Mobiles/AI/Creature/BaseCreature.cs
+++ b/Scripts/Mobiles/AI/Creature/BaseCreature.cs
@@ -4989,8 +4989,11 @@ namespace Server.Mobiles
 		{
 			BardProvoked = true;
 
-			this.PublicOverheadMessage( MessageType.Emote, EmoteHue, false, "*looks furious*" );
- 
+			if ( !Core.ML )
+			{
+				this.PublicOverheadMessage( MessageType.Emote, EmoteHue, false, "*looks furious*" );
+			}
+			
 			if ( bSuccess )
 			{
 				PlaySound( GetIdleSound() );
diff --git a/Scripts/Spells/Base/SpellHelper.cs b/Scripts/Spells/Base/SpellHelper.cs
index 4833971cc..4fd7e02a3 100644
--- a/Scripts/Spells/Base/SpellHelper.cs
+++ b/Scripts/Spells/Base/SpellHelper.cs
@@ -958,7 +958,11 @@ namespace Server.Spells
 				WeightOverloading.DFA = dfa;
 
 				int damageGiven = AOS.Damage( target, from, iDamage, phys, fire, cold, pois, nrgy );
-				DoLeech( damageGiven, from, target );
+
+				if ( from != null ) // sanity check
+				{
+					DoLeech( damageGiven, from, target );
+				}
 
 				WeightOverloading.DFA = DFAlgorithm.Standard;
 			}
@@ -1077,7 +1081,11 @@ namespace Server.Spells
 				WeightOverloading.DFA = m_DFA;
 
 				int damageGiven = AOS.Damage( m_Target, m_From, m_Damage, m_Phys, m_Fire, m_Cold, m_Pois, m_Nrgy );
-				DoLeech( damageGiven, m_From, m_Target );
+
+				if ( m_From != null ) // sanity check
+				{
+					DoLeech( damageGiven, m_From, m_Target );
+				}
 
 				WeightOverloading.DFA = DFAlgorithm.Standard;
 
diff --git a/Scripts/Spells/Spellweaving/ArcanistSpell.cs b/Scripts/Spells/Spellweaving/ArcanistSpell.cs
index 820069bdd..7b5f1860b 100644
--- a/Scripts/Spells/Spellweaving/ArcanistSpell.cs
+++ b/Scripts/Spells/Spellweaving/ArcanistSpell.cs
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ namespace Server.Spells.Spellweaving
 			if( from == null || from.Backpack == null )
 				return null;
 
+			if ( from.Holding is ArcaneFocus )
+				return (ArcaneFocus)from.Holding;
+
 			return from.Backpack.FindItemByType<ArcaneFocus>();
 		}