So something I noticed with the quest particularly with the little info drops that are on the stage. The second world we see seems to essentially be what would happen if Garlemald won, as the world had achieved technological superiority. However there were those that struggled against them and they wanted to unite all under one banner no matter the cost. However the machines they created not only destroyed the rebels but the creators themselves, and one person was able to kill more or less everything and died alone.

The Third world seems to mirror Etheirys before the sundering as the Ancients had a near perfect world that they could create and alter to their pleasing. Had Meteion not succumbed to despair it was possible that with time they would've also achieved a state of 'perfection' and would've lost their will to live. However that is only a possibility not a probability.

The one I'm having trouble comparing is the first world. The notes there said that they lived in the ocean but craved more. They then created weapons and the fire from doing so caused their oceans to become polluted and decayed eventually becoming a pestilence that poisoned them even through their suits. Not sure what this could be a hint towards though except possibly Garlemald again.