Phadrari, Imdii and Zaydael - the three winds

Life in The Hollow Expanse is determined by the wind. This dictates when there is rain, when the scrubland blooms and when you are able to travel.
There are three distict seasons during each year, and each has it's own prevalent deity who takes on the characteristics of that wind. The seasons of the Calendar have been codified to be ten ten-days each to make planning easier, but these don't always align exactly with the changes in the winds.

Phadrari

The first season of the year belongs to Phadrari, the Nurturer. This is the rainy season, which brings new growth. Winds flow from the south, bringing the moisture rich air which stimulates all the plants.
This is the busiest time of the year, as everyone needs to take advantage of the rain. The first ten-days are full of planting, then harvesting the bounty of the season. It is important to gather and preserve enough for the complete year, otherwise there won't be enough for the end of the year. When Phadrari is shorter than expected, it is a sign of impending disaster.
As well as being seen as the herald of rebirth, Phadrari is known to hold you accountable for your actions. They don't suffer nonsense, and pass judgment on facts and logic. They are seen as protectors of children, plants, and mothers.

Imdii

When the prevailing winds swing to be from the west, the season of Imdii, the Trickster, starts. Dry air from the Whispering Sands draws the moisture out of the land, signalling the end of the growing season. Rainfall is replaced by morning dew as the main source of water. The seasonal plants die back as this season sets in, while the hardier ones fall fallow.
To start with, the consistent winds of this season encourage you to relax and explore as they are gentler and free of the heavy downpours of Phadrari. But the aridness drains every creature who spends too long out in it. That said, it is the best time of the year to travel, as the winds are generally slower during this season. As long as you hydrate and maintain your salt stores.
Imdii is considered the most unpredictable of the winds, teasing you with one idea while brings the opposite to fruition. They are seen as the protectors of the elderly, travellers, and small creatures.

Zaydael

The final season of the year is that of Zaydael, the Chastiser. This is the hardest season of the year as the winds swing to being mostly from the north. The dust from the mountains combines with the sands to create desert storms that scour the land clean. Only those hardiest plants and structures survive.
Food is at its lowest, and the temperature difference between day and night is it's harshest. This is the time to hunker down and wait for the end of the year. Any activities should be completed in the morning, before the wind rises. When Zadael is shorter than normal it is considered a sign of heavenly favour.
Zaydael brings anger and discipline as they scour the land clean. It is a time of reckoning for previous actions. They are seen as the protectors of the innocent, down-trodden and wild animals.

Cultural influence

The winds are revered across the Fenixian Empire, though to most people they are distant figures to keep happy. They are considered as living in the Whispering Sands, from where they keep an eye on everyone and everything within The Hollow Expanse.
Their facets and personalities influence art and are often incorporated into the patterns added to the city walls during the festival to renew the walls.
A few take their devotion further, leaving everyone else behind and setting up on their own on the edge of the sands to focus their energy on learning the truth of the winds. This is an ascetic life, but those who survive are seen as gaining wisdom from their connection with the winds. There are records to show multiple emperors have visited these hermits for advice.

Type

Natural