So here's a deep question about clerics, but this may apply to to other classes as well:
If you use a cleric spell to do something that "grossly violates the code of conduct required by your god" - does the spell even function?
A cleric who grossly violates the code of conduct required by her god loses all spells and class features, except for armor and shield proficiencies and proficiency with simple weapons. She cannot thereafter gain levels as a cleric of that god until she atones for her deeds (see the atonement spell description).
So let's say a higher-level Cleric of Sarenrae or Iomedae or any of the Good deities just snaps one day and uses flame strike to smite a young acolyte of the faith. Or an orphanage. Or a basket of puppies. Or an acolyte bringing a basket of puppies to an orphanage.
Would Sarenrae or Iomedae even allow their holy power to be abused in such a manner? Would the flames flow from the heavens or would the goddesses be all "Aw Hells, naw!" and strip the offending cleric of their power for even attempting such sacrilege?
Another way to think about it is this:
A) Is the cleric "calling in an airstrike", with the deity still in control and free to deny use the power against an obviously inappropriate target?
OR
B) Does the deity hand the cleric a "loaded gun" full of spells every morning to do with as that cleric pleases, and if that use goes against the faith, then the "gun" gets taken away from them?
Can the deity sense the intent before the spell is used?
There is no rules support for a deity preventing a spell from being cast because it violates the code of conduct. Put another way: B, not A
I would say that when you are preparing your spells in the morning, You are taking in the divine energy to produce the effects, and the spells themselves are in effect, your way of venting said energy.
You can use them for your whim, after all, Iomedae is a busy god, and does not have time individually assist you with guidance each time you need a +1 on your diplomacy, or your buddies too hit.
On that off note. Otherwise, I would liken it to casting a beneficial spell on somebody, and it not going away when they decide that your usefulness to them is up, and go to kill you or do something that would violate your code. (maybe that fly spell you cast on them gave them the ability to set fire to that floating orphanage? who knows)
Heck, I'm not even sure the deities themselves hand out those spells. Don't they have minions to do the routine jobs of running the universe? Even if it's just morning prayers, answering ALL those pesky clerics in all the time zones of Gorlarion (does Golarion have time zones?) means hours after hours of answering the phone and dishing out Bless and Cure Light Wounds and Sanctuary and...
Holy Nine Hells, that's a lot of tedium - don't those gods and goddesses have anything better to do? Like posing on their celestial throne for another sculpture?
I bet those deities hire a few score of $9.00/hr. telemarketers to answer those calls.
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But still, you can't prepare spells that violate the code
That's a good point in answer to another question of "why do clerics have access to spells that clearly violate their deity's shtick?". This way we don't need to make a bajillion spell lists for all the dieties, but depending on how anal the ice god wants to be, he can say "fire spells bad, you no cast them".
I would say that when you are preparing your spells in the morning, You are taking in the divine energy to produce the effects, and the spells themselves are in effect, your way of venting said energy.
The magic was inside you all along! Well, that also explains non-deity clerics.
You can use them for your whim, after all, Iomedae is a busy god, and does not have time individually assist you with guidance each time you need a +1 on your diplomacy, or your buddies too hit.
"Hello! And welcome to IomedaePrayer®! To continue in Common, chant "one" now!
If you know the name of the miracle you would like to request, chant "one" now."On that off note. Otherwise, I would liken it to casting a beneficial spell on somebody, and it not going away when they decide that your usefulness to them is up, and go to kill you or do something that would violate your code. (maybe that fly spell you cast on them gave them the ability to set fire to that floating orphanage? who knows)
Well, those random beneficiaries probably have not sworn sacred oaths to you to uphold a specific code of conduct.
Heck, I'm not even sure the deities themselves hand out those spells. Don't they have minions to do the routine jobs of running the universe? Even if it's just morning prayers, answering ALL those pesky clerics in all the time zones of Gorlarion (does Golarion have time zones?) means hours after hours of answering the phone and dishing out Bless and Cure Light Wounds and Sanctuary and...
Holy Nine Hells, that's a lot of tedium - don't those gods and goddesses have anything better to do? Like posing on their celestial throne for another sculpture?
I bet those deities hire a few score of $9.00/hr. telemarketers to answer those calls.
[Insert joke about outsourcing to Vudra here...] ;P
I would argue that the deity would let you perform the action, then strip the power away...
Reason being: Until you have finished casting that spell, you haven't done anything wrong, and it seems unlikely that they have the ability to monitor all their worshippers all the time, at the same time.
GM may have a different idea though. I could argue the exact opposite, citing the fact that gods aren't mortals, and could very well be watching everything, all the time...
Unless a deity's portfolio includes prophecy or future telling, it'd be hard for them to truly see the future of that misaimed flame strike. And of course you have to sin first before actually being punished, at least for most good gods.
The topic title now makes me imagine a raging barbarian fighting for honour and goodness, though. 'The power of Iomedae compells me! *RAEG*' Or a monk dropping Stunning Fists on the evil guards and nobles of a decadent kingdom. Or a druid turning into a fox to start going Robin Hood on that kingdom. But even in those cases I think the feature would work, and a little later on there'd be some sort of reckoning. 'Amiri, we need to talk about these strange books we found under your bed ... '
B. Strongly.
If there was an "alignment check" build in into Clerical Casting it would have been mentioned.
There is absolutly nothing in the rules about direct divine interventuion if a spell is cast by a cleric who's result would be unliked by the caster's God.
But there are very many stories, and more important, rule text about "falling" aka get the bad feedback AFTER the use of the divinely powered ability.
Thanks for weighing in, y'all. It seems "B" (the "loaded gun full of spells") is the popular choice.
So let's say a higher-level Cleric of Sarenrae or Iomedae or any of the Good deities just snaps one day and uses flame strike to smite a young acolyte of the faith. Or an orphanage. Or a basket of puppies. Or an acolyte bringing a basket of puppies to an orphanage.
Don't forget that it is the orphanage for blind children.
They will never see it coming.
Is the Cleric in question wearing Ten magical Rings?