I think it would be best if we just started with a story theme/conflict in a bite sized chunk and add a couple broad assumptions that we agree on. The traditional "campaign world" model of D&D are great to read and can be inspiring but are also no use for actually prepping a game to run unless you have a scripted adventure. So here is my loose shot at some suggestions or elevator pitches for a story/adventure, followed by some "flavors".
It takes a village… for regicide.
In a peaceable minor barony, things are just about to get crazy. The loyal subjects have just killed their lord. He was young, handsome, and also a nasty, horrible person who didn't have hair of sensibility for leadership. The players are important people in the barony NOW. Some probably had a hand in his death, some probably want to put their own choices on the throne, some need to save their necks, some are claimants to the throne, some represent the king who doesn't take regicide lightly. Maybe the barony is invaded, maybe a claimant is here with his crusading knights to get a piece of the action. Maybe the orcs or dwarves think it's the proper time to move in.
Thorny For Roses
A divine monastery welcomes travelers for a pilgrimage only to have the solemn occasion upset buy murder of a monk or five. Some players can be competing schisms, some can be frauds, some can be inquisitors, whatever. Read the book.
We're All New At This
The players are the servants of a powerful wizard and must go about leading construction of his long planned dream-dungeon. How many laborers will they lose to the dark horrors they must house in the dungeon? Probably expensive! Do they have to clear one set of evil denizens from the caves before they can move the wizard's favorite evil denizens in? What if the powerful wizard keeps changing his mind about the dungeon layout? Pure fantasy-contracting horror!
The Great Tournament or Master Whitebrows is an Evil SOB
See Master Of The Flying Guillotine. Not quite Dragon Ball Z, but it would be fun to have a Wuxia game with evil/good monks and many esoteric fighting styles. Evil eunuchs, noble houses etc. I am relatively up on my classic Kung-Fu films but I don't know about the rest of you. I can make suggestions.
Flavors:
Fantasy Versions:
- ancient classic (greece/rome/egypt)
- early european medieval
- late european medieval
- Renaissance
- american fantasy (kinda like the wild west with swords)
- Chinese Wuxia (Dragon Inn, etc)
- Japanese Samurai Noir (Sword Of Doom, Sword Of the Beast)
- Hammer Horror (bloody pilgrims)
- sword & sorcery (by way of texas - Conan)
- Tolkien
- D&D Fantasy
- Low Magic
- High Magic
- New Wave (60's Moorcock/Ursula K. Le Guin)
Places:
- Sea
- Frozen North
- Savannah
- Desert
- Forest
- Farmlands
- Generic Fantasy Land