Summons if Following Certain Dieties?

[Dusk_Strider]

Alright, I've had a bit of a problem like this on Avlis. Main Character had a Horn of Command (summons minotaurs) and my main was also following Gorethar. I've been told by one of the veteran PC's been following Gorethar for a while that summoning is against Gorethar's teachings, due to calling a creature against their will.

Well as a bard, I am tempted to give Lomir a Summon Creature when he feels the time is right. Now when I am given level 6 Bard Spells, I have no choice but to take every spell, Summon Creature included. He follows Olyrn, God of Peace. Will this be a problem of him using the summon spell? This applies to other dieties too, by the way, but not with Clerics because they will be calling upon the god or goddess's champion instead of a random creature.

[terryrayc]

I'd say it's an alignment issue. As a follower of a LG good and one of peace at that, forcing something to do your bidding would seem a bit OOC

[Dusk_Strider]

Alright, I'll have the spell but not use it then, thanks for the quick answer and welcome back T

[Daemona]

I would like to expand this subject slightly. I am assuming this is referring to creatures only such as bears, wolves and kittens. Is this also the gate spell? I had considered it to be opening a portal to another plane and if you get a response the being came through willingly to help. Now with Sonja's alignment she would find it impossible to gate anything lower than TN. Where a C/E character is open to any summons. Even if they were included I would have to believe it is for living beings and a golem does not fit that criteria.

Am I off here?

[terryrayc]

Yes a gate spell is a bit different. However your summons needs to be IC, a LG player opening a gate for a LE critter is way OOC

[BrunoKnotslinger]

This should offer a more definitive answer. The team has hashed this over, so consider this the official answer (subject to revision and clarification, of course):

While many people have a personal philosophy that undead and evil summons are a tool to be used without consequence to the caster, the good-aligned deities as well as those whose primary concern is nature would wholeheartedly disagree.

Evil extraplanar beings are, well, evil. Undead are also, with very rare exceptions, evil. Naturally, good-aligned deities take a very dim view on their followers (especially their clerics) summoning such creatures and using them, even as a "tool". Likewise for several neutral-aligned deities.

Undead creatures are the antithesis of life. They are creatures through which negative energy flows and makes their existence possible. Regardless of their alignment, Dertmore, Pelagia, and Avani would likewise take a very dim view on their followers (especially their druids) summoning undead. The same applies to Jaeger, despite being evil. Even though he favors lycanthropes, and lycanthropes are often evil and associated with the undead, there is a vital distinction to be made: Lycanthropes are living creatures, albeit creatures with either a disease or a curse, depending on the flavor of lycanthropy they suffer from.

Just because the game allows you to call these summons to your aid does not mean you should if you are a follower of a deity who would take exception. Therefore, it should not come as a surprise if you find yourself falling out of favor with your deity.

Now, for you evil PCs or followers of evil deities:

As far as summoning good-aligned extraplanar creatures and putting them to use furthering your own evil ends, use your common sense. It may be perfectly IC to do so as an expression of your power and evil-ness. It may even please your god to do so. But summoning a Lawful Good Archon, who happens to be one of Olyrn's paladins, and having that Archon slaughter the kids in Old Hamlet is a really good way to piss Olyrn off and draw his wrath. Remember, you should be RPing like a DM is always watching, even if a DM is not currently online.