What is the relationship between druid and fey?

[Mrpops]

I've always been under the impression that druid and fey hate each other, but I can't really find anything either way between the two.

[sunbeam]

I dunno the historical roots of this idea.

I can say that stuff like leprechauns, little people, and fey are Celtic themes.

And it doesn't get more Celtic than druids. I guess that is it for the association, but as far as hating each other? First I've heard of that one.

[Ambrus]

Druids revere and serve the cause of nature. Fey are physical embodiments of nature itself. It seems to me that both groups have fundamentally compatible world-views and may in fact share many goals. Cooperation would seem to be wise and beneficial for both sides.

I don't know where you got the impression that there was mutual hatred between the two groups. From what I've read in various RPG sources, druids and fey are described as either close allies or the topic simply isn't addressed one way or the other. I can't recall an example to the contrary.

[Zhayne]

Mrpops wrote:

I've always been under the impression that druid and fey hate each other, but I can't really find anything either way between the two.

Depends on the druid, depends on the fey, depends on the campaign setting.

[Voadam]

Druids have Nature Lore which gives them a +2 on fey knowledge checks and:

Quote:

Resist Nature's Lure (Ex): Starting at 4th level, a druid gains a +4 bonus on saving throws against the spell-like and supernatural abilities of fey. This bonus also applies to spells and effects that utilize or target plants, such as blight, entangle, spike growth, and warp wood.

In the past I think they also had sylvan as a language they could choose to learn or got as a bonus.

In various D&D incarnations I've occasionally seen them portrayed as allied but not as inherently hostile to each other.

[Kazaan]

Well, to understand the Fey, you need to understand the First World, from where they originate.

The First World was sort of the "prototype" for the Material World we're familiar with and, as such, it exists outside of the standard cosmology. This was kind of the "first draft" and when the Gods determined that it wouldn't work, they left it behind and tried again, this time separating the world into the Material and Shadow planes, linked by the Ethereal plane (this seemed to work better).

The First World is a place where Gods, essentially, don't exist. You feel disconnected from your deity while you're there, though Divine magic still seems to work, but more likely through shear power of faith than actual direct godly intervention. Since Fey in the First World will re-form on death and lack souls to begin with, they are unconcerned with matters of afterlife; they take the cycle of life, death, and rebirth for granted because they can experience all three continuously. The life forms in the First World are also prototypes for animals that would eventually be created for the Material world. It also tends to be a very chatoic and unstable place, though "areas" of temporary stability flow through it, rendering parts stable for a time, but they eventually sink back into the chaos of the realm. So it also sort of represents a blending of all the alignments; there's no true law or chaos, no true good or evil, but it's not necessarily neutral either.

Druids are primarily concerned with nature, but the nature inherent to the Material plane. The "unrefined nature" of the First World would probably be a bit disconcerting to a typical Druid and the Fey creatures that come from it would be similarly disconcerting. I wouldn't exactly use the word "Hate" to describe their relationship, but it'd be more like the difference between creatures from the Negative Energy Plane and creatures from the Shadow Plane. They have certain common themes, but the Negative Energy Plane is "anti-life" while the Shadow plane is "anti-light". Another example would be Heaven vs the Positive Energy Plane.

So I'd say that Druids and Fey probably cooperate when it suits their purposes, but otherwise just stay out of each other's way.

[blahpers]

Considering several fey are on the summon nature's ally lists, I doubt that the default interaction level between druid and fey is "hate". If I had a single word to describe a typical druid's default attitude toward fey, it'd be "cautious". Fey are an intrinsic part of nature--but, then, so is a tornado.

[LazarX]

Despite that, Druids probably have a better understanding of First Worlders than the bulk of the Prime Material plane inhabitants. Druids do have a prohibition against the wearing of metal armor, which is very much in tune with fey sensitivities. I'm fairly sure it's not a coincidence.

[Dave Justus]

Don't ask, Don't tell.

[Ascalaphus]

Fey are quite diverse.

There's the irresponsible tricker types; towards them a druid might act like a stern/wise/kind grownup. Occasionally chiding them if pranks go too far, but maybe also protecting them from angry villagers.

There's the noble fey; druids would give them respect and maybe get some in return. Noble fey are pretty dangerous and can be on extremes of the alignment spectrum too; their goals don't necessarily coincide with those of druids.

And some fey are pretty dark and monstrous, marauding even. Druids might have to fight those from time to time, as part of keeping the peace between mankind and nature.

I think as a normal person, if you're being bothered by fey, druids are probably the experts, best equipped to help you. But on the other hand you're not always sure on whose side the druids are.