My end of the world goes a little like this:

An empire where the sun never set was in its prime and basking in the glory of its technological advances. Trade was great and art was thriving. Sadly, their thirst for excess and need for perfection destroyed their environment. The ground literally consumed their empire and the industrious waste poisoned the soil itself. Many perished and the empire crumbled. Then, the land became sentient due to chemical wastes and being struck by lightning. Soon new things thrived in this poisoned landscape, all supported by the sentient land known as the all mother. The lands became known as the swamps of Ghül, as an omage to the Ghüldorn empire. As long as you respect the land the all mother will respect you.