<strong>Emrick Stone: Reaching out</strong><br/><br/>The mage sipped lightly on the froth that covered his mug.  It was sour, but he knew the beer underneath would have a much richer taste.  What the Twilight Tavern lost in poor location was easily made up for with the fantastic quality of its drinks.<br/><br/>Emrick tipped the barmaid with a pair of coins, smiling broadly and eying the blush that covered her cheeks.  For a second, he was flattered, and his heart beat a little faster.  At least until she glanced over her shoulder at an impossibly handsome man playing cards, her attention already turned away from the young scholar.  He hid his dissapointment behind the tankard, and made for his booth.<br/><br/><em>"I also have maps of all the mist monster hot spots in the Deep Wood and Forests. Take a look.  I'm sure you will find much use in them." </em><br/><br/>He was largely ignorant of the surrounding conversation, until a tidbit about maps leaped out from the din.  Emrick paused, following the source of the voice, and found someone talking to the armored figure he had nearly tripped over earlier.  He reluctantly glanced back at his table, then at the man.  He had never been one much for unwarranted contact with strangers...  But<em>maps</em>!<br/><br/>Emrick stepped forward, next to the dirtied man.  "Sorry to interrupt, but did you mention maps?" he began, painfully aware of how dull he must sound.  "I'm a topographer, see, and I could help... with, uh, your maps.  Like an exchange of information?"  Emrick wrapped up his fumbled sentence quickly, taking another drink from his mug.