Visit Seano Naimi, Capital City of Baalia (All Citizens of the Galactic Republic)

[Karrie]

Baalia had recently became part of the Galactic Republic and Princess Karrie, the planet's representative in the Senate. Her first day as Senator was busy to say the least. By the end of the day she was exhausted, yet she had an announcement she wished to make before the Senate.

The room silenced as Senator Karrie walked up to the podium and then prepared to speak.

"My fellow Senators, my homeworld, Baalia, has recently became part of the Galactic Republic. Not only as Senator of, but also as one of the Princesses of Baailia, I would like to extend an invitation to you and to all citizens of the Galactic Republic to come visit the place of my birth. The capital city of Seano Naimi on the planet Baalia."

 

[Gir Quee]

Concorde-class Shuttle Remember Hast, Baalia System

Gir fiddled with the controls of his starship, finally getting the cockpit volume just right just before another ancient classical piece began to pump through the speakers. A ray of distant light from Baalia's sun briefly glinted of the nose of his craft right before the Remember Hast entered the world's atmosphere. Gravity tugged at the craft, and Gir found himself having to use a bit more force than normal to keep the shuttle on its trajectory.

"A little bit of turbulence," remarked Gir.

"Have you ever been to Baalia before, sir?"

The general spared a brief glance at his aide-de-camp before turning his gaze back to the skies in front of them, "First time. It's your first time too, I'm guessing, isn't it?"

The duros nodded, "Yes sir."

"It's always interesting to explore new cultures."

Lieutenant Lod nodded silently, causing Gir to wryly grin. In a way, the pair were perfect for each other. Lod, while good-natured, was not terribly talkative after he got to know someone. Gir was the opposite. He tended to be fairly quiet with strangers, but once he knew a person, he probably talked more than he should of. Their different needs for conversation made for a somewhat awkward flight though, resulting in the pair listening to music for most of their flight to Baalia. Their ship penetrated another layer of clouds, and the general could now see the city of Seano Naimi in front of them. I wonder who else will be here...

[member="Karrie"]

 

[Karrie]

Yaltyn Spaceport, Seano Niami City

Since extending the invitation to visit Baalia to all members of the Republic, Karrie had taken to coming to the Spaceport everyday and watching to see if anyone would come.

This day was turning out to be no different than any other. She, along with her sister Lissie, had been watching for several hours and no one had come. They were preparing to leave when Karrie noticed a shuttle descending through the clouds.

Just one more.

She thought to herself as she continued to watch. As the Baalian representative in the Senate and as a member of the Royal Family of her world, it was her duty to greet anyone who came for a visit and besides she was the one to extend the invitation.

The shuttle came to rest in the landing area, then as the hatch opened Karrie took Lissie by the hand and together they walked to the edge of the landing zone.

"Ƿes hāl. Ēadig, þec tō mētenne. Ic hātte Karrie ."

[member="Gir Quee"]

 

[Gir Quee]

"Ic hātte General Quee," said Gir with a slight bow.

C4-T2 had instructed him in some of the minor phrases of the language used by the Baalians, though the general was not fluent in the language. He had almost brought that protocol droid with him, but he guessed that the native Baalians might not find the old, battered L80 series droid's appearance as particularly attractive. No, the man would have to rely on his datapad programs and any interpreter he could find. The gray-skinned duros came out from behind the general.

"This is Lieutenant Lod," said Gir, breaking into Basic, "my aide-de-camp. This looks like it will be a good day for sightseeing."

[member="Karrie"]

 

[Karrie]

"Pleased to meet you both. Welcome to Seano Naimi, the capital city of Baalia," Karrie said to both men as she nodded to each in turn.

Gesturing to the young woman stood a few steps behind and to her right she added. "This young lady is my sister Princess Lissie."

Moving forward a few steps Lissie said "Gentlemen" as she then bowed a slight bit.


[member="Gir Quee"]

 

[Gir Quee]

"Pleasure to meet you, Princess Lissie," said Gir with a curt bow.

Behind him, Lieutenant Lod bowed as well, though it was a little more exaggerated than the generals. Gir turned his blue eyes back to [member="Karrie"].

"What is on the agenda today, your highness?"

 

[Karrie]

Karrie smiled and blushed somewhat. She wasn't certain how the young General would take what she was about to say.

" I had thought we could visit a place considered to be one of the oldest still yet surviving in the city .... The Osin Baths. They have been the heart of the city for millennia. It is rumored that the city was laid out then built around the site of the Baths. Over the years the city continued to grow, culminating in the city you are about to see."

Lissie giggled at Karrie's mention of the Osin Baths. She found it somewhat amusing that her sister, the Baalian Senator to the Republic Senate was embarrassed.

[member="Gir Quee"]

 

[Gir Quee]

Gir's blue eyes darted from sister to sister in baffled good humor. He briefly turned to face Lod, but the duros seemed oblivious to any potential awkwardness in the situation, though the general wasn't sure if it was from ignorance or attempting to remain professional. I suppose I can learn even from him. The general turned his gaze back to [member="Karrie"] and nodded.

"That sounds like a good idea to me," said Gir, "it's always best to understand one's origins before moving to the present."

 

[Ian]

A man dressed in black, save for the green tunic which he was wearing, walked up slightly to the right of Karrie and bowed.

"Your Highness, I will accompany you, your sister and your guest as you tour the city."

 

[Karrie]

Karrie was about to start walking in the direction of the Osin Baths when from seemingly out of no where, Ian had appeared beside her.

"Thank you Ian."

Turning to [member="Gir Quee"], she smiled and gestured to her right.

"Shall we?"

 

[Gir Quee]

Gir nodded in agreement, but his thoughts briefly wondered from the thoughts of the baths. He found Prince Ian's sudden appearance interesting. Perhaps it's to smooth any awkwardness of a pair of male guests with a pair of female hostesses. He dispelled the thoughts away from his head and focused on the sights around them. He turned his sapphire blue eyes on [member="Karrie"].

"So what else is there to know about these baths, your highness?"

 

[Karrie]

Karrie looked turned her green eyes with flecks of brown to Gir Quee as she started to speak.

"The building which houses the Baths are from what is called the Ancestoral Period and those in the immediate vicinity are from the Classical Architectural Period. There are three Architectual Periods and they are Ancestoral, Classical and Modern. Every Baalian child learns about the three Periods when they are of school age."

She quietly glanced to where Ian was stood then gestured in front of her as she started walking. Ian had appointed himself her sworn protector when they first met and has since never been removed far from her.

Returning her attention to Gir Quee Karrie continued.

"The Ancestoral Architectural Period refers to the time of the Jemhau and Kymni, those from who most Baalians are descended. Some refer to the Osin Baths by its ancient Jemhau name, Thermae Arum Osin or Baths of Osin. The meaning of Osin has regretfully been lost to the sands of time."

She paused speaking as they kept walking, her visitor may have questions.

 

[Karrie]

Gir's interest in touring Seano Naimi with her had quickly faded as she spoke of the Osin Baths and he had moved off to be by himself. So Karrie continued to walk, taking in the city that was the place of her birth.

 

[Karrie]

Karrie continued on in silence to the Baths. She usually walked around the city with Ian, who was always nearby yet this time he was keeping a respectable distance. Karrie hoped that Gir Quee would decide to return. Though surrounded by many others, his leaving resulted in her feeling alone.

Only a few more moments passed till Karrie was walking down the path, past a fountain and toward the entrance to the baths.

The Bath had been built around three principal rooms: the caldarium (hot bath), the tepidarium (warm bath) and the frigidarium (cold bath). It also featured steam baths: the sudatorium, a moist steam bath, and the laconicum, a dry steam bath much like a sauna.

The entire building comprised of a double set of baths, one for men and the other for women. It has six different entrances from the street, one of which gives admission to the smaller women's set only. Five other entrances lead to the men's department, of which two, communicate directly with the furnaces, and the other three with the bathing apartments.

Passing through the principal entrance, which was removed from the street by a narrow footway surrounding the building and after descending three steps, the Princess walked into a small chamber on her left, which contained a water closet (latrina), and proceeded to a covered portico, which ran round three sides of an open court. These together formed the vestibule of the baths (vestibulum balnearum), in which those who worked at the baths waited.

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Then she moved on to the atrium, which was the exercise ground for the young men, or served as a promenade for visitors to the baths. Within this court the keeper of the baths (balneator), who exacted the quadrans paid by each visitor, was also stationed. The room, which ran back from the portico, was usually appropriated to him; but it was also often used as an oecus or exedra, for the convenience of those awaiting the return of their acquaintances from the interior. In this court, advertisements for the theatre, or other announcements of general interest, were posted up. At the sides of the entrance were seats (scholae), where she decided to sit for a moment before continuing on.