For FoV why didn't he just seek out Bellegar first?
Maybe Zandalor didn't think he would help? It's not like Bellegar couldn't have shown up and offered to help if he had wanted to.
Augustus tells you at the beginning that Zandalor wants you to "contact Behrlihn and persuade him to cede you the Eye of the Patriarch", he also says this is a plan of desperation and that when Zandalor mentioned Behrlihn's name Augustus for the first time saw fear in his eyes. Sure Bellegar might not have helped but seeking him out first and telling him the options; ie. either help us or we seek Behrlihn might have been better to try initially than going straight for Behrlihn. Though I guess he didn't have much time and Behrlihn was closed being buried in Aleroth.
For example when Damian asked the Patriarch for help, the Patriarch could have just killed him but that would have made a very short game.
I guess from the Patriarch's perspective he probably doesn't really care what happens either way, he's resting for the moment and while Fjords was attacked that probably didn't disturb him. He knows by the time he emerges all the current players; Damian, the Dragon Knight, etc. will all be dead and there'll be some new incarnation of the Lord of Chaos trying to get free.
Edit: ah, you just put this in your post too!
You're both right though that very powerful NPCs are employed for plot purposes but as Arokh says, it does not always make sense. I also hope Divinity 3 explains what's going on with Maxos.
Taking Raze's points into account I think I'll rewrite what's in the spoiler in the first post and see if I can get my head around everything. Damian, Ygerna and Behrlihn all working independently seems to have too many coincidences. A full replay will be required at some point soon I think.
