Empire of Thaa’ra: Emissaries of the H'qani

Welcome to Thaa'ra...

More than three thousand years ago, a colony vessel fell from the heavens and struck the desert with enough force to reshape the land around it. From its crater grew Thaa’ra, a powerful city of ancient traditions, competing factions, and the immortal Sultana.

Why Am I Back on Kickstarter?

It has been nearly ten years since the original Court of the Sultana Kickstarter. Other business pursuits pulled me away from developing my own miniature lines, but I never stopped building the world around them. Over the years, Thaa’ra has grown into a much larger setting with its own history, cultures, factions, creatures, and characters.

Now I finally have the time and freedom to return to that creative work. Emissaries of the H’qani is intentionally a small first step, a chance to pick up a creative thread I put down nearly a decade ago and begin exploring Thaa’ra through miniatures again.

Who Are the H’qani?

The H’qani are an influential order of fire worshippers and fire wielders within Thaa’ra. Their power extends well beyond their temples, and they understand that influence within the city often depends upon remaining in the good graces of the immortal Sultana.

Once each month, the H’qani send a formal delegation to the Glittering Citadel, the ancient vessel at the heart of Thaa’ra that now serves as E’Keelie’s palace. The delegation arrives with musicians, dancers, and entertainers chosen to court the Sultana’s favor through spectacle and celebration. A lavish feast follows, after which entertainment gives way to politics as the emissaries present petitions, air grievances, negotiate favors, and advance the interests of their cult.

These miniatures represent members of one such delegation, the emissaries and performers who bring the fire, pageantry, and political ambitions of the H’qani into the Sultana’s court.

Physical Miniatures in a Digital Age

The miniature hobby has changed dramatically over the past decade, and home 3D printing has opened the door to an incredible range of artists and miniatures. We think that's a great thing, but our focus remains on professionally manufactured physical miniatures cast in 100% lead-free pewter, with durable SiOCast plastic used selectively for larger pieces.

There is something special about the weight, detail, and permanence of a metal miniature. Many of us still game with figures we bought decades ago, and that is a tradition we want to continue. This Kickstarter is entirely physical: no STLs and no digital rewards, just miniatures made to be painted, played with, collected, and enjoyed for years to come.

Funding Goal: $500

The initial goal of $500 will fund the transition of the new H’qani sculpts into production, including master preparation, mold making, production testing, and the first casting run in lead-free pewter.

The design work is already complete. This campaign is about taking these previously unreleased figures from finished sculpts to physical production miniatures and getting them onto painting and gaming tables.

Returning Favorites from Court of the Sultana

Alongside the new H’qani miniatures, 10 figures from the original Court of the Sultana range will be available as optional add-ons. This gives new collectors an opportunity to discover some of the miniatures that started Thaa’ra while also allowing longtime collectors to expand their existing collections.

After nearly a decade of production, some of the original molds are showing considerable wear. If funding permits, we hope to begin replacing a few of the most heavily worn molds to help keep these older favorites available for years to come.

The Future: Empire of Thaa’ra

Court of the Sultana was only the first glimpse of a world far beyond the palace walls. That world now has a name: The Empire of Thaa’ra.

Going forward, Court of the Sultana and these new releases will become part of the larger Empire of Thaa’ra miniature range. Beyond the Citadel are competing cults and factions, warriors and mystics, strange creatures, distant peoples, ancient mysteries, and dangers lurking beyond the city.

The Emissaries of the H’qani are the first step back into that world. If this campaign succeeds, future releases can explore more of Thaa’ra through new characters, factions, creatures, scenery, and stories.

After nearly a decade away, I'm not trying to bring the entire Empire to life in a single Kickstarter. I'm excited to start making miniatures for this world again and see where we can take it from here.