In essence, it produces essence, which is essential.

According to the information I could find on the internets, it needs to be protected and women are trying to steal it. 

Troll...

I think Brad mentioned in IRC a while back that it'd give you access to the FE online store. I believe it was 1 essence gives you access, and each one after that  gives you like a 1% discount on something. Which I like, because my horses really need armor. I forget which credit cards he said they accepted, but I'm pretty sure Visa was one of them.

We were told we were getting a new tile resource a while back. I was so sure it would be beer. I guess essence is fine too. You can make beer out of essence.

Maybe it's simply an essence of beer? The whirl definitely suggests some liquor... I know!! It's the spiritual essence. 

Essence is beer.

Maybe essence represents the magic inherent within the land itself, and not just located within shards?

Actually, I had been logically assuming that "Essence" was a perfume.  Then if you had enough Essence, you would smell better, and the monsters would stop trying to eat you.  Instead, they would just buy you dinner, and then show you a Good Time ...  

I suppose Beer could serve the same purpose ...     

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5zXMokthgE

Obviously the essence (of life) is beer, or I am overintepreting this.

Sincerely
~ Kongdej

That makes it all clear. Your mastery of the English language holds no bounds.

After I read your response all the mysteries of the universe, Who are we? Why are we here? How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? Have been answered.

What decision making? If a piece of land can support a city and isn't too close to another, I'm going to build one there.