1.0 Ul'dahn story arc

[HiirNoivl]

Ok, so there are a few things I want to clear up for you all.

The Velodyna Cosmos:
I find it highly unlikely we are talking about thaumaturgical preservation here. It's more of a case of time-travel.
In the time Thancred is investigating Ul'dah, the city is in open floral trade with Gridania thanks to the good relationship Niellefresne has established with the Greatloam Growery. It is only after Nielle's death that this relationship is broken down, making them expensive and rare in the present day.
Nielle remarks that the flower has not yet begun to wilt. This is because the import and distribution of the flowers, as far as he is concerned, happened a few days ago, but it still looks freshly cut. Of course, you've only had the flower for a few hours, which explains its condition. All that echo-jumping is playing with peoples' perceptions.

Lord Lolorito:
Claiming he is at the centre of conspiracies and is himself Ala Mhigan is drawing an unreasonably long bow. If he were Ala Mhigan, he would have been met with the same sorts of discriminations as our beloved Flame General. No, this man is a very well established merchant who has been building his wealth in the Ul'dahn heirachy for a long time. He owns Esthaimes and Sunsilk and it is in his interest to have strong trading partners. While he stands to benefit from economic activity of war, he also has a lot to lose from the elimination of a significant trading partner or if his wealth is ransacked by Garlemald.
So spy? No. Self-interested prick interested only in wealth? Yes.
Lolorito's possesion of Heartstrike is not only justified by his ownership of Esthaimes, but he may fear it being used against him (and I don't mean in a lethal manner - a financial one). If anyone is going to own the secrets of resurrecting the dead, it better be him!

The true danger facing Ul'dah:
We know that Minfilia is Ascilia, so let me pull out this quote for you:

That's right, Ascilia witnessed the Battle of Silvertear Skies, presumably with her father, who then travelled to Ul'dah to bring the dire news of the implications for the aetherial balance and expected primal activity.

The Velodyna Cosmos:

The rarity of the flower goes beyond the idea that the trade relationship between Gridania and the guild is broken.

Just an example, when seeing your flower Niellefresne shoos the female elezen out of the room. He then lies about who he is:

Niellefresne: Well come, milady, to Eshtaime's Lapidaries. I am master goldsmith and proprietor of this establishment, Niellefresne. If you would permit me, I would be happy to appraise your merchandise.

He then says that the clerk who oversees such purchases is out... so oops, no records or receipts of the transactions are taken.

If the flower was so common place and not valuable because of Gridania's frequent trade, why does he wish to conduct his business out of the eyes of others? He has no reason to be secretive and shady about the trade if the Cosmos has no value other than a pretty petal.

Lord Lolorito:

Lord Lolorito does have significance because he is part of the Syndicate and the only one we know about in the first cutscenes. The Syndicate is trying to make war by perfecting the raising of the dead. The fact that he's an important figure of Ul'dah just doesn't exclude him from being Ala Mhigan. After all, RAUBAHN is an Ala Mhigan who manages to make great wealth and becomes part of the Syndicate and the leader of the Immortal Flames. He doesn't rise because of politicking in the Syndicate either, but at the request of Thancred. In Ul'dah it doesn't matter where you are from but how much money you make.

So it's all based on actual things in the game. Unlike some of my other theories.