I know the human race section has that line about not being able to learn secret languages (like druidic) as a bonus language, but does that really mean non-druids can never learn it?
What if I just learn it by putting a rank in linguistics or through a feat like Cosmopolitan?
The only way to learn it is to be a Druid or find a rogue Druid to teach it to you at the risk of both your lives. If you demonstrate your knowledge of it in front of druids, they'll turn hostile.
Your GM can, if they choose, allow you to take it if part of your back story ties it in (e.g. you were training as a Druid but abandoned the order or found an ex-Druid to teach you before your campaign starts).
In PFS, this is not an option.
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You'll want the Druidic Decoder feat from Faiths and Philosophies. It basically lets you teach yourself Druidic little by little, but don't let any Druids catch you speaking it because then they'd have to kill you!
Is there actually a rule, in RAW, that says only druids can learn druidic?
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Or, if you qualify, you can become a druid... and avoid the death sentence
Where are you getting this "they have to kill you" and "death sentence" thing?
Is there actually a rule, in RAW, that says only druids can learn druidic?
RAW is not a catch-all. There are many things not covered strictly by the rules as written, for example "Can dead people make perform checks" (there is no rule saying that they can't). So a certain amount of GM interpretation is necessary (because obviously corpses cannot tap dance.)
Since GMs have a real world understanding about learning languages, expect some pushback if you want to learn a weird language that your character has no reason to have been exposed to, whether that's Druidic or Aboleth, Triaxian, Vegepygmy, or Czech.
Considering that there is a feat that basically exists in order to allow you to learn Druidic, I would say that there is no way you could learn it by taking a point in linguistics, because if you could there'd be no reason to take the feat. If you have a really good narrative reason to have learned Druidic, expect that the GM will make an allowance for this, but I don't think you can take it (or any other language not included in your race's bonus language section) without GM approval. They're generally not going to say no to "We've been in the Darklands for a while, can I learn Undercommon" but expect Triaxian to be off the table until you've actually visited Triaxus, met someone who's from there, or come across some text that's written in the language. Someone who has never left Sandpoint, after all, would almost surely have no reason to guess that Triaxian even exists as a language.
So a certain amount of GM interpretation is necessary (because obviously corpses cannot tap dance.)
Clearly, you've never heard of Necromancers creating Synchronized Zombie Dancers for their own amusement.
RAW is not a catch-all. There are many things not covered strictly by the rules as written, for example "Can dead people make perform checks" (there is no rule saying that they can't). So a certain amount of GM interpretation is necessary (because obviously corpses cannot tap dance.)
The RAW don't have to, because as I recall, being Dead doesn't remove the Unconscious condition, which does explicitly say that you cannot take actions.
Regardless, the rules regarding Druidic are fairly clear. Every race that lets you learn "any language" specifically excludes secret languages (including druidic but allows for it to apply to any other secret languages which exist in your campaign). Furthermore, as I recall Linguistics also forbids the character from learning secret languages. However, there is a feat, and probably other game elements which specify you can learn (or do learn) Druidic.
RAW is not a catch-all. There are many things not covered strictly by the rules as written, for example "Can dead people make perform checks" (there is no rule saying that they can't). So a certain amount of GM interpretation is necessary (because obviously corpses cannot tap dance.)The RAW don't have to, because as I recall, being Dead doesn't remove the Unconscious condition, which does explicitly say that you cannot take actions.
You don't have to be unconscious to be dead. For example, an assassin's death attack simply renders you dead.
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It does not explicitly say that you will be killed for learning druidic, but it is implied.
A druid also knows Druidic, a secret language known only to druids, which she learns upon becoming a 1st-level druid. Druidic is a free language for a druid; that is, she knows it in addition to her regular allotment of languages and it doesn't take up a language slot. Druids are forbidden to teach this language to nondruids.
Considering there are a lot of chaotic neutral and neutral evil druids out there killing a character that learns it is not unreasonable. Teaching it to a non-druid may also qualify you for the status of Ex-Druid.
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Where are you getting this "they have to kill you" and "death sentence" thing?How else are they going to prevent a non-Druid from teaching the language to other non-Druids and exposing their secrets?
Basically, this. If you as the game master have a way that Druids can reliably keep non-Druids from learning and teaching the language, nothing in RAW stops you from using that instead.
Perhaps they use feeblemind to destroy the knowledge of the Druidic language (and everything else),... wait, no, feeblemind doesn't work that way, and isn't a druid spell anyway.
Perhaps they simply plane shift the offenders to a secret demiplane of imprisonment.... wait, no, plane shift isn't a druid spell, either.
Perhaps they use imprisonment,... no, that's not a druid spell, either.
I'm rather running out of ideas, honestly. Kill them, burn the body, scatter the ashes, those are well within the capacity of a first level commoner, though.
But what won't really work is for the druidic order to go "oh, well, that's too bad." That's not how secrets are kept.
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RAW is not a catch-all. There are many things not covered strictly by the rules as written, for example "Can dead people make perform checks" (there is no rule saying that they can't). So a certain amount of GM interpretation is necessary (because obviously corpses cannot tap dance.)
They sure can stink up the place though. :)
What about the Tongues spell? And how would Druids react to that?
Tongues doesn't teach you the language.
There's a trait, as well...
Let's see if I can find it...
Ah, here we go. Feral Speech. With the GM's permission, it can give you Druidic.
A loremaster could learn it at 4th or 8th level, since they don't have any limits on learning languages.
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They'll still get hunted and killed if a druid finds out. Never set foot in the wilderness again.
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would hunters be allowed to know druidic being a druid hybrid class?
One could quite easily argue that being part of a Druidic Circle (or similar Druidic organization) is completely separate from having a given "class" for your character. The important thing, then, would be that your character has been accepted as a member in good standing of the Druidic Circle.
Conceivably, hunters or rangers or even other character classes could be members of a druidic circle. And hence learn the Druid's secret language.
It's more a question of world design than game mechanics. Despite the various feats and traits that seem to cross the lines.