Scia Tenstina

Scia Tenstina (Skee-uh Ten-stee-nuh; born 220 years ago) is the Karida of Ventrism and current Hand of the Crown for Aldareina Ashlyn Kaistra of the Kingdom of the Asharalyn. Scia was the second youngest person to become the leader of the Ventric Church, after Karida Alre Tenstina during the reign of Aldarei Anarion I. Like each Karida who reigned after the Great Calamity that brought the Aseri to Eldham, Scia is an Aseri Elf and from the city of Asariana. Additionally, as a member of the House Tenstina, Scia is ethnically an Asún Aseri.

Scia spent his childhood being trained in scholarship and became an adept academic upon reaching maturity. At the encouragement of his predecessor, Karida Elion Urithana, Scia joined the Acolyate at the age of 182 to become a clergy member. Scia's extensive scholarship enabled him to quickly acquire the rank of Amandil after only five years, half of the usual 10 years expected from Acolytes. After joining the Amandilate, Scia involved himself with the Order of the Scroll. Scia served as an Amandil for more than three decades until being chosen by Karida Elion to serve as a Kardinale. The appointment would not go through however, as Karida Elion passed away before the appointment could happen and instead, despite some controversy, Scia was elected Karida at the age of 220.

Scia's reign as Karida so far has been seen as fairly non-traditional, notably with attempts to expand aspectist theological thought in the church and to shift from the church's teaching that other religions are misunderstandings of Ventrism, but rather different aspects of the same religion. Scia is well-liked and respected among elites and low-borns alike, though he has faced criticism from both the old guard and modernists in the church for not going far enough in either direction. Theological scholars typically see Scia's reign as Karida being characteristic of a modernist, but clearly with caution to prevent ruptures among either the old guard clergy or religiously traditional followers.

Early life
Scia was born 220 years ago to a life of nobility, being the son of and heir to the prominent House Head Eltaor Tenstina. Given his noble upbringing, Scia was put through rigorous studies at a young age, particularly in areas of religion, history, and science. At the age of 10, Scia's father passed away due to illness, leaving his mother Jastira Tenstina (née Elanan) to be his primary caretaker. Jastira ensured Scia's studies would continue, especially given his new status as Head of the House Tenstina. Upon reaching maturity at the age of 160, Scia was a seasoned scholar and passionate academic.

Education
Once Scia was finally an adult, he decided to adventure throughout Eldham for a time. He spent the next two decades traveling and documenting his findings in his journal until returning home. His intentions were to continue exploring Eldham, however by chance he encountered Karida Elion Urithana who encouraged him to put his knowledge and skills to better use by joining the clergy. With some persuasion, Scia was convinced to join the Alcolyate in hopes of becoming an Amandil. Alcolyte training is designed to take ten years to complete, however Scia's rigorous studies during childhood allowed him to join the Amandilate in half the time.

Scia primarily served as an Amandil in the city of Asariana and became well-known among the citizens of Asharalyn's capital. He also decided to join the Order of the Scroll, a Ventric Order, in order to further his scholarly interests through religion.

Karida election
After 33 years of serving the Amandilate and Order of the Scroll, Scia was poised to be tapped by Karida Elion for the role of Kardinale to fill a long-vacant spot in the normally three-member Kardinalate, however the Karida passed away before such action could be taken. One of the two sitting Kardinales, Elora Waesmyar, promoted the idea that the timing of Scia's tapping and Elion's passing was a sign from the gods that Scia was in fact meant to serve as the next Karida, however the other Kardinale, Arbane Zumroris, resisted her idea and suggested that he himself should be the next Karida. The stalemate produced by Arbane's obstinance and Elora's insistence on Scia's election infuriated Arbane to the point of him resigning from the Kardinalate. This resignation gave Elora full authority to choose the next Karida, thereby electing Scia Tenstina to be both the second-youngest Karida at the age of 220, as well as the first Karida since the creation of Ventric Church to not have been a Kardinale prior to being elected.