A Continent of Banalities

 Mireen Varthek for White Star.  Mireen Varthek was born on board the bulk carrier Golden Toil. Now, Varthek is a name she has taken later. Her birth name is Yokthon - a name that, to many people, is synonymous with moocher, stowaway, and parasite. The Yokthons are a great dynasty of blind passengers and vagabonds. Mireen remembers a life without certainties, a life of hiding and stealing. It did leave her with a (now somewhat rusty) ability to pick locks. Since then she has tried to steer clear of her extended family who would love an extended ride on her coattails (or give her grief about her disloyal ways).  Mireen fled her family with cabin boy Fierick and a stolen guitar. The two were in love in that short-sighted but very determined fashion which belongs to the young. They eked out a living as buskers for a couple of years. Mireen did the actual music, while Fierick passed the hat around. Her talent was discovered by a bar owner, and soon Mireen was fronting a house...