Arast Aram

Arast Aram, also called the Lord of Dust, is the principle diety in the nation of Arqar-Sharri. He is paid tribute by the Sharri of the cities primarily, though he sees some scattered worship in the Waste. The will of Arast Aram is primarily conveyed through the Dustspeakers, a cadre of ancient Sharri who claim to speak directly to the god. Beliefs in the faith of his followers revolve around reincarnation and the cyclical nature of life.

Philosophy
The worship of Arast Aram primarily revolves around cycles and reincarnation. The Sharri believe that they are reborn into new bodies each time they die, until they have acquired sufficient wisdom to be deemed worthy of Arast Aram. When this happens, they believe they will be removed from the cycle of reincarnation and brought to paradise. Some believe that good deeds in life will result in being reincarnated into a higher standing in the next life.

Sharri have different perspectives on the cycle of reincarnation. Some spend their entire lives devoted to learning in an attempt to break their cycle. Others, particularly those of noble birth, believe they can use the cycle to their advantage by laying schemes that can be triggered by their reincarnated selves later in the cycle. While few of these attempts come to fruition, it is still a widely-held belief in the Sharri nobility. Meanwhile, those of poorer status try to live virtuously with the hope that they will come back as a noble.

Iconology
The primary symbol of Arast Aram is the cyclic triangle, a three-sided shape whose sides flow together to create an endless loop. This symbol appears prominently on the banners that hang from places of worship such as the Temple of Dust. Many Sharri tailors, sculptors, and jewelers incorporate the triangle motif into their designs. It also appears often in Sharri warriors' tattoos, to invoke the favor of the god should the warrior die and reincarnate.

Worship
Worship of Arast-Aram takes place at sunset on Fridays. Congregations of Sharri are led by a junior Dustspeaker, often called Dust Priests. Worshippers pray for the wisdom they need to reach paradise, as well as for favorable reincarnation. The service always begins and ends with the same phrase, "Arast het arast," "Dust to dust." This emphasizes the cyclical nature of life according to Sharri beliefs.

On non-worship days, religious Sharri may light triangular candles in their home to seek favor from the Lord of Dust. While there are other gods in the Sharri pantheon, their worship comes second to Arast Aram, if at all- their popularity fades with every passing year.