Thanks for the comments!
Based on feedback here and in #NES, here is my next proposal (please feel free to discuss!):
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-> Each player is a noble family within a larger empire, which has reached its zenith. This empire is ruled, obviously, by an emperor/autarch -- but the nobles have a considerable degree of regional power, and in many ways, this emperor is purely symbolic.
-> There is also a Warlord, who presides over the empire's armies. Currently, the land is in immersed in what is called the "Era of the Emperor", but that is slowly transitioning to the "Era of the Warlord", for reasons I will describe below.
-> The great "horde" of the north/east/west/whatever is resting at the empire's borders.
-> This horde has effectively blocked off access to one of the empire's distant holy sites, a place once used for pilgrimages. So now, the empire and its religious institutions have offered charters for warrior-families to enter into the netherlands and destroy the empire's enemies, and conquer new lands and subjugate new peoples -- in a place that was hitherto left unconquered because of its sacred nature (probably separated from the empire by a narrow isthmus or something).
-> Players would thus have a lot of intrigue in the empire itself, vying for more power and favor with not only the emperor, but also the warlord, and a group of eunuchs (some obviously corrupt).
-> Players would also have the goal of conquering new lands, a land rather foreign to the empire, one not only hosting the enemies of the empire, but also teeming with fantastic beasts.
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I was thinking that this empire could resemble Tang Dynasty China, in that it is not completely backwater dark ages, but rather there are important scientific discoveries being made, and a sort of regional renaissance in progress. There would be a variety of ethnic groups, united under this empire. I am open to suggestions, though -- if the overwhelming majority would prefer a Persian-esque setting, or European middle ages, that is fine, too. But remember: I'm not saying this is Chinese, but rather it can resemble Tang Dynasty China. Many ethnic groups would be within this structure, and so noble families will come from a variety of ethnic groups (though of course, there will perhaps be a single dominant one).
Then, the "horde" or whatever could essentially be notMongols, but fanatic religious zealots, as well. Don't want to make things too black-and-white "This is notChina, and this is notMongols." No. I would create descriptions for everything -- it'd be unique.
The empire will have stretched far and wide already, and players would also control governorships or provincial lands or something (estates). Perhaps the empire has been at the cusp of invading the "foreign land" for some time, but was prohibited due to some geographic barrier? Or fear? Or they revered the foreign land as too sacred to conquer (birthplace of humanity / their religion)?
Discuss.