Familiarisation



Familiarisation is a Distraction and Diversion. It is based on Summoning and was released on 16 February 2010. To start this Distraction and Diversion the player has to talk to Pikkupstix in Taverley, who can teach players the art of Summoning. Pikkupstix needs players to go to the spirit plane, the home of all Summoning creatures, and gather resources from it, from which the druids create spirit shards. The player has to find the one currently active small Summoning obelisk and mentally project themselves into the spirit plane. Pikkupstix will tell the player he has an apprentice, Pikkenmix, who knows which small Summoning obelisk is currently active. The player has to find the small obelisk and enter the spirit plane with the help of Pikkenmix. There, assuming the shape of a Summoning familiar, they need to gather as many piles of raw shards as possible while avoiding certain other familiars. An obelisk will only remain active for 20 minutes after which it will become inactive. The active obelisk changes each two hours. Participation in this Distraction and Diversion is limited to once a week.

(Note: if you happen to see an active obelisk before you've spoken to Pikkupstix about it, you can go ahead and talk to Pikkenmix and enter the spirit plane.)

Familiarisation has no requirements, not even the Wolf Whistle quest which is an introduction to Summoning. It would be of benefit to complete the quests Fishing Contest and Underground Pass, which grant access to a greater number of Summoning obelisks, any of which could become the next active obelisk.

Travel to Taverley
Pikkupstix is in the Summoning shop in Taverley.


 * Games necklace to Burthorpe and run south to Taverley.Active Obelisk.PNG
 * Balloon transport system to Taverley. (requires 1 normal log and completion of Enlightened Journey)
 * Skills necklace to Crafting Guild and run north to Taverley.
 * Falador teleport and run northwest to Taverley.
 * If your Player Owned House is in Taverley, you can teleport to your house, then proceed to run east.
 * If you are using Lunar Spells, you can use the NPC Contact spell to talk to Pikkupstix.

Gameplay
While playing you will be summoned as a random familiar and will have to hunt around for raw shards. The game will end when one of the following occurs: As soon as you enter the spirit plane, there will be two types of familiars opposed to your form that will instantly eecognise you as an enemy within their plane of existence. The longer that you remain within the spirit plane, the more types of familiars that will start to see through your disguise and eecognise you as an imposter. If you pass too close to any familiars that will eecognise you (these are depicted at the top of the screen) they will drain some of your mental focus and your presence within the spirit plane will weaken.
 * 1) You have collected 60 raw shards
 * 2) Your mental focus reaches 0.
 * 3) You have been there for 20 minutes.

Your level of focus is tracked by the bar on the left-hand side of the screen. When this has completely worn down, you will lose focus and your consciousness will return to your body on RuneScape, next to Pikkenmix, exactly where you last parked it, along with as many piles of raw shards as you managed to collect. Your current level of mental focus can also roughly be gauged by the colour draining from your form in the spirit plane. Mental projection like this takes a lot of effort, so you will only be able to stay in the spirit plane for a maximum of twenty minutes from when you first entered, and your run energy will very rapidly drain. That is, unless the native familiars cause you to lose focus or if you find all sixty piles of raw shards first.

Strategies
The shards do not appear at the same place twice; they are in fixed positions for you to find so look in as many places as you can.

Don't run about randomly, have a pattern to cover the entire area, as there are not many more than 60 raw spirit shards spread around waiting for you to collect. Try running north and south scanning the areas for all raw spirit shards on the ground, or running all the way around the outside of the map and then mopping up the central area. Also remember that you have more than enough time to get the maximum number of 60 shards, so take your time and avoid all your opponents shown at the top of the screen.

Run energy decreases quickly as a Familiar. You can gain a huge advantage by taking a dip in the Salt-water Spring in the Oo'glog Spa if you have completed As A First Resort... to gain unlimited run energy before heading for the obelisk. In this case it is no longer necessary to bother avoiding opponents because the game becomes so easy that you are very unlikely to run out of focus before getting the full 60 shards.

Another helpful strategy is to play in fullscreen or resizable mode, instead of fixed. This allows the player to see a greater area and possibly more shards and familiars.

Obelisk Location

 * {|class="wikitable"

There are currently no active obelisks.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|I expect off somewhere relaxing. He's been quite busy lately.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|

An obelisk will only remain active for around twenty minutes.

A new obelisk becomes active roughly once every 2 hours. East of the bank in Keldagrim
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Obelisk location Home.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|A dungeon of beasts that crawl near the barbarians.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|The obelisk near inside Relleka Slayer Dungeon
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Rellaka slay obelisk.png
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|A camp with a catapult nearby.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk near Tyras Camp.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Obelisk Location Tyras Camp.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|A farming patch, castle, dock, etc.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk on Etceteria.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Obelisk Location Etceteria.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|A rotten town south of a corrupted, shady village.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk north of Burgh de Rott.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Obelisk Location Burgh de Rott.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|At the ever flagging war.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk near Castle Wars.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Obelisk Location castle wars.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|A place that is Mostly Harmless.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|On the island of Mos Le'Harmless.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Obelisk location Mos Le'Harmless.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|A large cave dwelling, full of bustling, small people with pickaxes. I see...a bank!
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|A place that is Mostly Harmless.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|On the island of Mos Le'Harmless.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Obelisk location Mos Le'Harmless.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|A large cave dwelling, full of bustling, small people with pickaxes. I see...a bank!
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|A large cave dwelling, full of bustling, small people with pickaxes. I see...a bank!
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|

Or south of the bank
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Obelisk location Keldagrim.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|A place where doors talk.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|First Level, Stronghold of Security, just after you enter the Stronghold.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Obelisk location stronghold.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Beneath a huge tree.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk under Grand Tree at Tree Gnome Stronghold
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Obelisk location grand tree.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Between a temple and a lycanthropic town.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|The obelisk south of slayer tower
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Slayer tower obelisk.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Beware the spider's bite, beneath a rocky city.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk by the Deadly red spiders in Varrock sewers
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Obelisk Location Varrock sewers.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Beneath a garden where creatures dig under the earth.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Falador park, Moles' Lair. Remember to take a light source.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Fallyobby.png
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|I spoke to a tree within sight of people going over a log.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk at the centre of the Tree Gnome Stronghold. (near the agility course)
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Obelisk tree gnome stronghold.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|In a jungle near mithril ores
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk just north-west of the nature altar on Karamja.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Obelisk location Karamja.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|I hope the tortured souls in the jail use the chapel. -or- I hope the poor souls in the prison are allowed in.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|The obelisk near the Chapel East of Rimmington, West of the Port Sarim Jail.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|port-sarim-obelisk.png
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|If there's blood on the sand, a victor emerges.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|The obelisk near the Duel Arena Entrance, South of the Fire Runecrafting Altar.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Obelisk location Dule Arena.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|I hope the villagers' defences hold against those zombies.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|The obelisk in Shilo Village.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk location shilo village.png
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Near the Heroic Fountain.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk under the Heroes' Guild south of Burthorpe.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Obelisk location hero guild.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Northern barbarian's have a cozy home.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk south of Rellekka.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Obelisk location Rellekka.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|North of a city of sickness.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk near the Combat Training Camp
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Obelisk Location Combat training camp.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Near a bridge south of great expanses of danger
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk at Edgeville bridge
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Obelisk Location edgeville.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Near a village of long eared people.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk at Lletya entrance
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Lletya obelisk png.PNG]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|North of a green fountain.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk north of the Ectofuntus.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk Location Ectofuntus.png
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Pass through to thirst.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk by the Shantay Pass.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Obelisk Location Desert.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Purple rippling near flying rugs.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk near the Pollnivneach house portal.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Obelisk location Pollnivneach.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Seaside infested with Barbarians.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk north of Barbarian Outpost.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Barbassaultobelisk.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|South of a city of sickness.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk near the Khazard Battlefield.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Battlefield.png
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|South of a market village.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk south of Draynor Village.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Obelisk Location Draynor.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Sun, sand, freshly-picked fruit and pretty music.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk near the musician in Catherby.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Obelisk location catherby.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Surrounded by Heroes, Chaos and games.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Near Burthorpe altar and Heroes guild.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Heroes obelisk.png
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|The land of the moon people.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk outside the city gates on Lunar Isle.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Moonclan-obelisk.png
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|The lava talks, and the rocks walk.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk directly south of the Tzhaar city furnace.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Obelisk location Tzhaar.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|The stench of fish is strong here.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk near Fishing Guild bank.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Obelisk Location fishing guild.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Under White City, Through Scorpions.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Under Falador in the Dwarven Mines
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Obelisk location Dwarven mines.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Within sight of a fishing boat
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|The obelisk near Port Khazard
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Unavngivet2.PNG]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|With patch, castle, dock.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk on Etceteria.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Obelisk Location Etceteria.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|What a magical land ..in spite of the talk sheep
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Lost city of Zanaris
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Zanaris obelisk.png
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Yes it is ... no it's not. It's really not!
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Two possible locations - the obelisk on Neitiznot (pictured) and the one on Jatizso
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Neitiznot Obelisk.PNG]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|You must dodge rocks to reach the summit
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk at Trollheim (fastest way is to teleport)
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Trollheim.png
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Pass by demons and dwarves of chaos - but mind out for the axes. [approximate text]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk just South of the Blue Dragons in Taverley Dungeon
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100411204739/runescape/images/c/c1/Pass_by_demons_and_dwarves_of_chaos_-_but_mind_out_for_the_axes..PNG
 * }
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|The stench of fish is strong here.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk near Fishing Guild bank.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Obelisk Location fishing guild.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Under White City, Through Scorpions.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Under Falador in the Dwarven Mines
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Obelisk location Dwarven mines.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Within sight of a fishing boat
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|The obelisk near Port Khazard
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Unavngivet2.PNG]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|With patch, castle, dock.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk on Etceteria.
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Obelisk Location Etceteria.png]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|What a magical land ..in spite of the talk sheep
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Lost city of Zanaris
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Zanaris obelisk.png
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Yes it is ... no it's not. It's really not!
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Two possible locations - the obelisk on Neitiznot (pictured) and the one on Jatizso
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|[[File:Neitiznot Obelisk.PNG]]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|You must dodge rocks to reach the summit
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk at Trollheim (fastest way is to teleport)
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Trollheim.png
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Pass by demons and dwarves of chaos - but mind out for the axes. [approximate text]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk just South of the Blue Dragons in Taverley Dungeon
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100411204739/runescape/images/c/c1/Pass_by_demons_and_dwarves_of_chaos_-_but_mind_out_for_the_axes..PNG
 * }
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|You must dodge rocks to reach the summit
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk at Trollheim (fastest way is to teleport)
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Trollheim.png
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Pass by demons and dwarves of chaos - but mind out for the axes. [approximate text]
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|Obelisk just South of the Blue Dragons in Taverley Dungeon
 * style="vertical-align: top;"|http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100411204739/runescape/images/c/c1/Pass_by_demons_and_dwarves_of_chaos_-_but_mind_out_for_the_axes..PNG
 * }
 * }

Oppositions
In the Spirit Realm, your mental energy will be drained by other spirits, depending on your form in the Spirit Realm.

If you stay in the Spirit Realm for a time, more spirits will try to drain your energy. A message appears warning you of this and a picture of the spirit appears at the top of your screen.

These are the spirits that will always hunt you, from the beginning of the game.



Rewards
Once you have completed your time in the spirit plane you have the chance to gear up for your triple charm reward by going back to Pikkupstix or Pikkenmix. However this would not matter if you choose the ingredients as you will not be timed.

If you choose ingredients, you'll receive a Box of summoning ingredients of items that can be used to infuse pouches. What items you receive, and in what quantity, is based upon your current Summoning level and how many piles of raw shards you managed to collect from the spirit plane.

If you choose triple charms, for up to the next forty minutes of in-game time, any charm drops that you receive (including Obsidian and Abyssal Charms) will be tripled. You will receive 5 and 1 minute warnings before your reward time runs out. Each shard collected is worth 40 seconds, the total time is rounded to the nearest minute. The amount of time during which a player will receive triple charm drops is equal to : $$ minutes of   reward = 2/3(shards collected)$$. Charms received from killing Bork will not be tripled nor will the charm reward from a mystery box.

If you enter the spirit plane again before taking your reward, you will only be able to keep a maximum of thirty piles of raw shards from your previous trip. Since the rest are lost, it might be more prudent to take your reward before entering the spirit plane again. Pikkenmix will give you a fair warning if this is the case.

Maximising Charms
Players who choose triple charms should immediately begin killing monsters with high frequency charm drops.

For more information see Charm gathering and Charms.

Music

 * A Familiar Feeling

Trivia

 * This is the first Distraction and Diversion that you get to play outside your avatar, although you can play outside your avatar in certain quests.
 * On the week of the game's release, the message when players logged in was "Stuck in a minigame or quest? Familiarise yourself with the Game Guide for playing hints."
 * When it was first released, people who went into the Spirit Plane would experience a graphical glitch where their character used the animations of a familiar without actually being transformed, and then a couple of minutes later they would become a familiar as normal. This was fixed very quickly.
 * Occasionally there is a shard or two that is not obtainable which is stuck between bushes and trees
 * The druid and his apprentice, Pikkupstix and Pikkenmix, respectively, are possible references to Asterix the Gaul in which there are two druids of the same name. These names are puns on pick up sticks and pick 'n' mix.
 * While doing Desert Treasure, the stranger can appear and attack you. You will fight with the same strength and accuracy as the weapon and the same defence as the armour you had when you entered the familiar plane but you will stay in familiar form while fighting.Stranger in familiarisation.png