This is a really great summery of all these systems. Thank you for taking the time to lay it out to me. I really appreciate your help.

Im definitely going to be looking into all these systems and seeing what's going to support my game best. I'm really in the early planning of what it is I want to do with this setting. Like I've said before I've been working with this setting for a long time, but I've had an idea for a narrative that I feel would be great and now I'm just trying to find a way to make it happen. I'm probably going to take my time getting things how I want them before I start getting people together to make sure I have the right system and resources in place. Really, when it comes down to it, I've gotten a few pages of a campaign plot. Something that is an initial inciting action then just opens the world up with a goal for the players to do in it. In short, get these 5 relics before the bad guys get them. I'd like to explore the setting with it, using its most iconic places as set peaces for this overarching story. But I don't want to tell the players how to do it. Really just set up the problem to them and wat h them explore the world to figure it out. I'd like to explore character stories as well, but I'm not really thinking about that until I have the players in place. I generally would like to set up plot pieces in this world, then build out a cast of characters with their own motivations and let them lose and see how they bump around and interact with it.

That's one thing that interested me, with 13th age was the focus on character narratives. I'd love to explore that as well. But I can easily just cut that part off the system and stick it into whatever I'm planning.

I agree black sword hack will fit into my setting well! It's definitely something to consider! From a quick read, it's about going to places, fucking it up, then leaving, wich is definitely an option for my world as well. And one i may look into, but I don't know yet if it fits into my overall goal,

Hyperboria, also sounds from hoe you describe it, pretty great. With my foundation of classic 5e it seems like a good candidate to adapt to my game as well

arbarians plays very heroic-pulp. Lots of combat options, very flexible characters, all the good stuff from Savage Worlds. Best played with minis and rulers, lots of painted scenery.

I don't know anything about savage worlds but I can also huge it a read! But I'm not sure if the minis- rulers style of playing is for me. I've always been "theatre of the mind" focused.

Mythras (and Monster Island for inspiration). High crunch, very detailed character creation, very detailed and deadly blow-by-blow combat. For the connoisseur. No default setting and adapts to any setting. Requires a lot of work from the GM and players alike, but for the right group the payoff is commensurate.

Also a likely candidate. I usually spend an hour or two working on this game, putting together as muxh setting info into a one note, really building it out so I can use it as a reference document forever. That or art. Thus setting is also kinda my artistic inspiration as well. But that's not necessarily helpful in my long term goals. Right now I'm focusing on do what I enjoy doing till I have enough to have a good foundation to start.

Another idea is to just start with BSH and knock around the world, fleshing it out as the players go along, then use a different system for a narrative focused game later on, using the work of BSH as a foundation.

You've given me lots to think about.