The Tsanka and The Denaksa

Who are the Tsanka?

Snaking its way across a land adjacent to Alacritia is a nomadic pack called the Tsanka. This group, among other things, practices marriage by capture. When one of their children reaches the age of one that child and his or her parents sets off to find ?the one?. When ?the one? is found he or she is abducted at the first possible opportunity. Depending on the circumstances, this might consist of the future in-laws simply snatching the child up or the whole pack getting involved. This custom is sacred to them and they firmly believe that the foreign child chosen by their own was meant to be with them; that the two were destined to be together; that they are were souls separated before birth with the sole purpose of finding each other in this life. They believe in reincarnation, that each time they die their souls are thrown into confusion. Finding your soulmate in each life is a vital part of your ascension, which happens after an unknown number of life cycles. The kidnapped child is promptly married to his or her young captor and is slowly integrated into their way of life.

The Tsanka are a nomadic family pack that follows prosperity. The only time they settle in a place is during winter. As soon as spring rolls around they're off again, following the herds, the birds, or whatever their shaman says is what they should be following. Everyone in this group uses the surname 'Tsanka' and those who are married into the pack adopt the name as well. Their names always end in a vowel sound.