Torag paladin

[Cyoticus1]

In the Faiths of Purity book Torag's paladin code states "Against my people's enemy I will show no mercy. I will not allow their surrender, except to extract information. I will defeat them and scatter theirs families. Yet, even in the struggles against our enemies, I will act in a way that brings honor to Torag."
I have a player that seems to think this gives him the ability to kill a defeated and defenseless evil priest. I would think being lawful good would dictate the priest being turned over to the local authorities for judgment, but the way this reads contradicts that. Does the "people's enemy" mean anyone that stands for something other than dwarven interest, or is it more specific like "hated foes" like goblin and orc subtypes. I would like to think this phase does not give a paladin of Torag an easy way out by saying "They stood against me therefore they get no mercy.". I am looking for some insight on the and maybe some suggestions on how to deal with this challenge

Thanks

[Atarlost]

I think you're being narrow about LG. The local authorities aren't what's important. The controlling authorities are what matter and to a paladin of Torag the controlling authorities are always the church of Torag and Torag himself.

Who does the evil priest follow? Are they hostile to the paladin's people? Probably. That would make their church the enemies of his people as well.

[Gennadi]

Hail and well met. My name is Gennadiy, and I have long thought myself alone chosen as champion by Torag. It is a joy to see a sibling paladin who wears the hammer.

Your friend over there, the one a-dicin' behind his little screen, he asks if we are blood-thirsty? He wouldn't ask such questions if he carried the Code in his heart. We are men of honor and action, protectors of our kith and kin. Do we basely slay the non-combatant? Of course not. But you should instruct him on the fundamentals of "take no quarter".

Let the paladin of lovely Shelyn embrace her foes once she has beaten them. Let her teach them beauty, and pray they learn from her and not the other way 'round.

Let the paladin of Iomedae demand surrender from her foes, and then support them as her wardsmen. The shield maiden's champions demand the respect due a warrior, but sometimes forget how to give it in return.

But explain, my stout brother-in-arms, how it is the will of the forge-father that we carry the hammer to our foes, and how, once battle is joined, it is sacred. We would no sooner accept surrender from a foe than we would accept spoiled food or shoddy armor. If a foe throws down his weapon, we demand he take it up again. Should he refuse, we finish the fight.

But tell your friend over there, the one with all the fancy books, that Torag demands that we work his will with honor. I've cured a foe's diseases, and once kept one safe from poisons, even as my blows laid him low. May Pharasma never say that a man I fought had died of affliction, or slow bleeding, or old age. If a drunkard threatens my folk, let him speak his words again when his head is clear. And if his heart is unchanged, let him take up his sword and die.

[Cyoticus1]

Thanks for the replies. I have a new way to look at it

[Jeranimus Rex]

The Chelaxian speaks truth, Torag's code doesn't allow for niceties such as quarter, but that doesn't mean he gets to slay anyone willy-nilly.

But there's another important note on how a Paladin of Torag works, he swears fealty to a particular group of people, whether it be an entire race, a nation, a city, a hamlet, or just the adventuring party, this Paladin is loyal until the end.

So a greater context is needed, what people has the Paladin sworn to defend, honor and uphold?