I'm at the Nashkel Mines but I can't initiate a dialog with Emerson to start the quest. I just click him over and over and nothing ever happens. Does anyone else have this problem? What could be wrong? Included a screen, for all the good that does me. Help please :-(

Did you talk to the mayor in Nashkel?
If not, I believe that he starts the quest.
BTW you can walk in the mines without the guards moving

I have had a few issues with NPCs that will not recognize that you are trying to talk to them. I have been saving, and loading and it fixed the problem for me 100% of the time.

Same here - Though for me saving/loading does not work, I need to actually quit the game and start it up again.