Aether

The Aether (alternatively called Purple Mist, or the Shroud) is an energy or material that permeates the known worlds, collecting in certain areas and having a profound effect on the material world it interacts with. It is a major energy source in spaceflight, intrinsically connected to Psionics, and is used in a whole manner of weaponry.

Theory
The Mist has been a fundamental part of mythology, history, and science since recorded history. While the Aether is mostly invisible, areas where the it is thick it enough to see in the naked eye were long thought to be sacred, and were closely connected to myths and legends surrounding these areas. As time went on, and the Aether was more closely studied by inquiring minds, theories on the nature of the Aether became abound. A leading hypothesis holds that the Aether is in fact the Primordial realm bleeding into the material one. In more spiritual and religious terms, the Aether is thought of as the para-physical manifestation of the life tree Ygrassil mentioned int The Sagas.

As a Weapon
While Psionics can often directly interact with the Aether itself, there have been many mechanical attempts over the years to utilize this, or otherwise replicate it. In modern times, there are several organisations which have managed to pull this off, creating ballistic weapons that will use charged Aether as an energy source and destruction. The Elves in particular have mastered this, and have a wide rage of regularly used firearms for a range of purposes, normally utilizing the Elves natural connection with the Aether.