Yes and no, Zariel is pursuing Karlach because she absolutely must punish her as an example. Karlach is known in hell as a very skilled warrior; her escape wouldn't go unnoticed. If Zariel were to simply let her escape, it could lead to even more escape attempts, something Zariel, given the dire situation, cannot afford. I'm afraid she would do whatever it takes to punish her as a deterrent as soon as she landed back in hell.
I would say its the other way around, Zariel personally persuing Karlach is a sign of weakness for Zariel to show, Devils only persue traitors and deserters that are on their close social caste. If a Archdevil is pissed running around chasing a slave bodyguard, it reflects poorly on Zariel.
Karlach is part of Zariel's bodyguard entourage, last time i check, this includes more than a thousand individuals. Karlach's escape would be mostly blamed on whoever recruited her, not on Karlach herself (she is property to them, not a person with free will).
This leads to:
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Wyll theoretically isn't just anyone. A group of paladins is nothing to scoff at either. Perhaps he's well aware that he won't be able to function for long outside Avernus, and that's precisely why she doesn't send entire legions after her, or perhaps her other issues prevent that.
Wyll was subcontracted to Mizora, whose much lower on the totem pole than Zariel, if one does Wyll's story, Mizora is mostly out of the way as a entity. As Karlach herself says, the group of "paladins" was fake, they were just human mercs mascarading as paladins of Tyr (if memory serves) that managed to lose to a low level party of adventurers, the game doesnt imply this directly, but i feel its Mizora that hired these mercs, not Zariel herself (which would extremely odd).
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That's why, even more so, the solution to her engine problem should be resolved right there. We have experts at hand whom we've saved and who have access to technology that enables the proper functioning of such devices in Faerun. I don't understand why this aspect wasn't resolved right there.
Completely agree, its extremely odd how the plot is presented and nothing is done about it.
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Yes, but we would return to a point where there is no good solution. An arrangement with Zariel wouldn't be beneficial for anyone; I don't think it would be a job contract where Tav kills demons for Zariel from Monday to Friday and then spends the weekend with Karlach.
It's not that these things are impossible. My frustration stems from the fact that solutions are within reach, which the game teases us with throughout the gameplay, only to end by metaphorically slapping the player in the face.
Overall, I have a strong impression that the entire ending, aside from Karlach's storyline, is rushed and underdeveloped compared to the rest of the game. Not to mention the fact that in the second act, I had to switch the game to English because half of the letters/documents/books weren't translated into my language, and instead of text, there were only two square brackets []. But that didn't bother me as much as the utter disappointment with the ending of such an otherwise fantastic adventure in such a pathetic manner.
Also agree here, i just think the most likely scenario outcome in the "Return to Avernus" is that Karlach is simply forgotten by Zariel and becomes just yet another "free" citizen of the infernal planes (as free as you can be under the fascist dictat of Asmodeus' society). With Tav and/or Wyll there, she likely has enough protection to not get enslaved again.
I know most here like to praise Karlach as a unique and powerful individual, but as far as Devil politics and her importance to Zariel goes, she honestly isnt that big of a deal. Tav's soul would be far more valueable to a up and coming devil than any of the 3 going to Avernus at the end of the game.
But again, there ample oportunity for the game to give Karlach a good ending and it clearly seems like a rushed job.
