Spells of the Sphere of Air deal with the prediction and control of weather, with more potent spells dealing with the power of storms and precipitation (such as the causing of rain or sleet -- as the temperature allows -- or even lightning.) Due to the nature of the weather, even an Air Mage cannot perfectly predict the weather -- or perfectly control it. Spells of this Sphere, when interrupted, have a high chance of having disastrous side effects, proportional to the power of the spell and the energy already invested in it.

According to the theory of the organization of spheres most held by Rephidimite scholarship, the Sphere of Air is closely related to the Sphere of Chaos (Chaos, Sphere of), and is diametrically opposed by the Sphere of Earth (Earth, Sphere of).

One of the Seven Sisters, major goddesses of the Babelite pantheon.

Although the exact "birth order" of the Seven Sisters is in question, Barada is traditionally held to be the youngest of the seven, though this doesn't exempt her from her fair share of bloodshed and mayhem. She is the matron of spies and seers, but also of those keeping secrets ... so she's also seen as a matron of thieves, at times, and she's also been strongly associated with wealth. Supplication is made to Barada in hopes that she will reveal secrets ... or make sure that they are kept. Businessmen often seek her blessing on their businesses ... or protection from thieves. Barada is a bit of a mischief-maker, sometimes choosing to reveal an otherwise perfectly-kept secret, just for the sake of stirring things up. Thus, when there is an unexplained "leak" of information, it is common to blame Barada's trouble-making.

It is believed by many that the priestesses of Barada controlled a vast spy network that (for the most part) served the Sabaoth of Babel, mostly for the purpose of keeping tabs on the Houses of Babel and their activities.

Mount Barada is also a location outside Babel, where there is a shrine built to the goddess of the same name.

The rune representing Barada in Babelite script is also known as the "Golden Key".

Blakat is the name of one of the Seven Sisters of the mythos of Babel, known as the Goddess of Conflict, often as the Goddess of Murder, and sometimes invoked as a Goddess of War. She is a matron of mercenaries, and is also seen as a matron of bandits and brigands, for in legend she is depicted as frequently being envious of others' possessions and taking them by force.

Blakat is also regarded as the "Mad Goddess", and is strongly associated with insanity at times. At times, there have been attempts by outsiders to portray her favorably as a matron of soldiers, but this is contrary to the Babelite mythos, in that they see the universe as naturally chaotic and unfair, and thus their gods and goddesses are fundamentally flawed and are appeased more than truly worshipped.

Blakat is depicted as a wild-haired, wild-eyed, mad-looking female Eeee with a fierce countenance, in torn clothes and pieces of mismatched armor, often carrying a cruel-looking weapon of exotic shape. She is frequently (but not always) depicted as having red hair and/or red fur; she is said to bathe in the blood of her enemies.

Blakat is also the name of a mountain in the range of the "Seven Sisters" near Mount Dronnel, outside the city of Babel. It is home to a shrine devoted to her name, and it is said that every pebble on the mountain represents a drop of blood shed in her name.

Priestesses of Blakat are taught some martial skills, and many of them serve as mercenaries for those who make especially large "donations" to the sisterhood. Of the Yodhblakat (Daughters of Blakat), many are trained to become the Slakash - the Poison Women - warrior priestesses who are best known for their practice of working themselves into berserk frenzies when entering combat.

The rune that represents Blakat in Babelite script is also known as "The Dagger", though it's often given a more descriptive adjective, such as "The Bloody Dagger" or "The Crimson Dagger".

(alternate spelling: Gurphat - guhr-FAHT)

Gorphat is the Goddess of Affliction, and is displayed as a gaunt, thin woman, and is typically portrayed in myth as being very lazy and slothful - a trait often exploited by her sisters to their advantage. While her realm is primarily disease, she is also often associated with famine and pestilence as well.

Sacrifices are made to her in hopes of staving off disease, or in the hopes of bringing it to the households of enemies. Due to the habit of her priestesses of conducting Purges in the Undercity, she is also associated with the Sphere of Fire (Fire, Sphere of) in some myths.

Gorphat is also the name of a mountain outside of Babel, where a shrine to the goddess of the same name is located. Some of the priestesses practice magic of a sub-set of the Sphere of Life (Life, Sphere of), focusing on the aspect of Disease.

The rune that represents Gorphat in Babelite script is known as "The Wound", and it also frequently used as a symbol for Life Magic focusing on the aspect of Disease.

Inala is the most popular of the Seven Sisters, and portrayed as the most beautiful of the group, and is generally regarded as being the oldest. She is a complete hedonist, and myths featuring her are the least suitable reading for impressionable minds. She is sometimes presented as a "Goddess of Love" for the benefit of outsiders, but such sugar-coating does little justice to how she is portrayed in myth. Quite often, it involves some mortal catching her attentions, and she "blesses" this mortal with all manner of gifts ... and then ends up destroying the mortal in the end. So many Babelites apparently still see this as a great way to go, and Inala is the one goddess of the Seven Sisters most truly worshipped rather than merely appeased.

Inala is also the name of a mountain just outside of Babel, and home to a "shrine" to the goddess of the same name -- in practice, a brothel where all manner of vices are performed, many of them quite unspeakable. The "Children of Inala" are priests and priestesses born and bred into the service of this goddess, and cannot leave the priesthood except by death. It is a whispered rumor that those who are born to the "Children" who are ugly or deformed in any way are offered up as sacrifices. Those who are not "perfect" but still "usable" are sold off to the various Houses as child servants.

The rune that represents Inala in Babelite script is also known as "The Flower".

Mind mages traditionally dress in rich brown robes bearing the rune of their Sphere, "The Center" (or "The Heart"), which is also the rune of the planet Logos.

Rephath is the Goddess of Vengeance, one of the Seven Sisters of Babelite mythology. It is also the name of a mountain in a range ringing the city of Babel, the mountain being dedicated to the goddess of the same name, and having a shrine on it with her priestesses.

Rephath is a matron of vigilantes, and myths involving her of course deal with matters of revenge, being routinely quite violent. At times, officials of Ashdod have attempted to portray Rephath in a more positive light as a matron of law enforcement officials, but this is only done by completely ignoring the particulars of established mythos.

Rephath is traditionally depicted as a grey female Eeee - idealized as with most Babelite goddesses - with hair bound back in a long braid, and dyed markings in her fur, including variations upon her personal rune. She is often shown holding a set of scales, typically tipped to one side, and she is also often depicted with a large, double-bladed axe.

The rune that represents Rephath in Babelite script is also known as "The Balance".

Sunala is the Goddess of Death, and a matron of assassins. She is believed to devour the souls of her prey, giving them utter annihilation rather than the afterlife. Nonetheless, sometimes condemned criminals or wounded soldiers will pray to her, begging her for a quick death, seeking annihilation rather than the horrible, slow deaths they expect to face.

Despite her role, Sunala is depicted as a beautiful woman (by Babelite standards), with beauty rivaling that of her older sister, Inala.

In Babelite myth, Sunala is the only goddess of the seven that is spared from ever being subjected to getting killed off at the hands of the others. It is suspected that if someone were to introduce a story that did portray Sunala as dying, he or she would receive a personal visit from some priestesses of Sunala intent on purging this "heresy".

Sunala is also the name of a mountain located outside Babel, which houses a shrine to the goddess of the same name. It is not much of a secret that the priestesses of Sunala are often hired to perform ritualistic assassinations, though their services generally do not take them outside of Babel itself, and they never act against the ruling house of Babel (i.e., the Sabaoth, the High Prince, the High Princess, or whomever might hold the throne).

The rune that represents Sunala in Babelite script is also known as "The Corpse".

Spells of this Sphere deal with, as would be expected, water in its various forms -- including rainstorms and ice.

Zakaro is portrayed as a great mage amongst the Seven Sisters, even though they all exhibit miraculous powers as would be befitting to deities. She is associated with ancient, lost rituals ... but she is also seen as meddling in the spell-casting of mortals, causing spells to go awry when mortals displease her. As such, she may be reverred by Babelite mages, but offerings to her are more for the sake of appeasement and turning away her wrath than for seeking of any boons from her.

Zakaro is also the name of a mountain outside of Babel, which holds a shrine deciated to the goddess of the same name. Many of the priestesses of Zakaro are mages, focusing on the Sphere of Chaos. For the most part, the priestesses of Zakaro do not have approval from the College Esoterica, but they have traditionally been protected by Babelite law for their roles as priestesses.

The rune that represents Zakaro in Babelite script is also known as "The Magic Circle".