Rhythm Ball Meztli/Story
Last updated 2025-05-02
EventStory
Rhythm Ball Revolution!
Main article: Rhythm Ball Revolution!
Quest DescriptionA letter from the People of the Springs beckons you and Paimon to a special party hosted by Mualani. It's time to take the stage...
- (Upon receiving the quest)
- Paimon: Oh, what a surprise! A letter from Mualani!
- Paimon: It says... the People of the Springs are hosting a... music festival?
- Paimon: Well, that sounds fun! Let's go check it out!
- (Talk to Rhythmos, optional)
- (Traveler): (Looks like the DJ is immersed in the music. Let's go ask Mualani and the others about the situation first...)
- (Approach Mizuki, Mualani, and Xilonen)
- Mualani: Hey!
- Mualani: Our guests of honor are here! Now we can really get this party started!
- (If the player has not met Mualani yet, an introductory note appears on screen)
Mualani — Splish-Splash Wavechaser
Hailing from Meztli, this vivacious girl is a renowned guide in Natlan and the proprietor of the watersports shop "Leisurely Puffer."
As the brightest star in any crowd, her laughter and cheer ignite the passion of those around her.
She believes there are two kinds of people in the world: friends she already knows, and friends she hasn't met yet.
- Paimon: Hey, Mualani! Oh, and Xilonen's here too!
- Paimon: And... Mizuki? You're back from Inazuma already!
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: That's right! My friends in Natlan are like family to me. I like to think of the People of the Springs as my home away from home.
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: If I want to help people here, I definitely can't neglect the Natlan branch of my practice.
- (If the player has not met Yumemizuki Mizuki yet, an introductory note appears on screen)
Yumemizuki Mizuki — Embrace of Enchanting Dreams
A clinical psychologist and one of Inazuma's yumekui-baku, known for their ability to feast on human nightmares.
Her investment led to the opening of the Aisa Bathhouse, an Inazuman indoor hot spring where guests can unwind with a unique combination of relaxing baths and delicious cuisine, as well as professional psychotherapy services.
If something's been on your mind, you should consider confiding in Mizuki — she'll do her best to drive away those nightmares.
- Xilonen: Miss Mizuki's work ethic is impeccable.
- (If the player has not met Xilonen yet, an introductory note appears on screen)
Xilonen — Ardent Flames Forge the Soul
All in Natlan know Xilonen for her great forging skills and her fame as a Name Engraver.
To temper tales and cast Ancient Names is a duty without parallel, and outside of these responsibilities, Xilonen is also willing to craft some exquisite, practical items.
She gives every piece of work the utmost focus, ensuring that every product is of the highest quality.
But after work, Xilonen switches focus to enjoying her leisure time, which is, for her, of the greatest importance.
- Xilonen: She puts the rest of us service-providers to shame...
Wait, so... Are you one of her clients, too?- Or could it be... that you've worked together before?
- Xilonen: Well, I've had some weird dreams lately... Like, a client expediting a commission from a four-week time-frame to just one.
- Xilonen: Or, like a rush order for some kind of spherical accessory with an element of danger to it...
- I know this one. Slimes and Fungi.
- Are you talking about Specters and Ball Octopuses?
- Paimon: Wow, you made that connection pretty fast, Traveler. Almost as if you're the one sending Xilonen weird commissions through her dreams...
- Xilonen: Huh, are those creatures... dangerous?
- Xilonen: Anyway, the expedited time frame isn't even the hardest part. Spherical designs are tricky, and when you rush it, you end up with something that isn't even good.
- Xilonen: Point being, I've been having nothing but those kinds of dreams. So, I wrapped up all my orders and decided to visit Miss Mizuki for help...
- Xilonen: And, it worked like a charm! When I took a nap that afternoon, all the weird dreams were gone!
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: It was my pleasure to help, Miss Xilonen.
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: Although, I'm not sure how much credit I can really take for the disappearance of those dreams...
- Mualani: In any case, everyone's feeling good and well-rested now! Which means, it's party time!
- Mualani: A party on the water, to be exact! It's a tradition in my tribe, and we're gonna have a blast!
- A party on the water, huh...
- Sounds fun.
- Paimon: Yeah! Let's party!
- Paimon: ...Although, what does that involve, exactly? Obviously, delicious food and drinks are a given...
- Paimon: But, how do people in Natlan like to party?
- High-speed surfing with a Koholasaur?
- Skydiving from the back of a Qucusaur?
- Rope-less bungee jumping with a Yumkasaur... Tried that one, actually.
- Paimon: Wait... Are you being serious?
- Mualani: Oho, do I spy a fellow extreme sports enthusiast!? To tell you the truth, those activities were where my mind first went to as well!
- Mualani: But, according to Chief Amina... *ahem*... "Not everyone likes high-adrenaline activities!"
- Mualani: "Even beach volleyball can be dangerous. It's all fun and games until you spike the ball straight into your friend!"
- Mualani: "This event is supposed to be fun, not something that scars people and creates even more work for Miss Mizuki in the process!"
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: Well, she does have a point. I'm always happy to help, but I'd rather not have a hand in creating my own patients' trauma. It's better if no one gets hurt.
- Mualani: Mhm-hmm, which is why I came to you for advice!
- Paimon: So, what's the plan?
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: Well, not everyone has a background in extreme sports, and we don't want that to deter people from participating in this event.
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: As we were chatting, I happened to mention the Mikawa Flower Festival and its more laid-back approach to games, and Miss Mualani really latched onto that idea.
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: So, we decided to give Akitsu Haneasobi a distinctive Natlanese twist! The result is "Rhythm Ball" — a relaxing game that doesn't sacrifice on fun.
- Paimon: An Inazuman game... with a Natlanese twist! What a cool idea!
- There's the Children of Echoes' Dance-Off Stage.
- I can really feel the beat of the music.
- Xilonen: Wow, and you haven't even heard the band at full volume! You must have a good sense of rhythm...
- Xilonen: Which, as you can imagine, is perfect for "Rhythm Ball." The goal is to smash all the blocks by hitting the balls to the beat of the music.
- Xilonen: No complex techniques, no safety issues, just instinct. It's a game everyone can enjoy.
- Xilonen: Oh, of course, with your skill, you could even add extra layers to the music, or bring out a new sense of rhythm.
- Xilonen: After all, different DJs can give the same song a whole new feel. And, in a game that involves beats, the player can showcase that same creativity!
- Xilonen: Who knows... In your hands, the background track could go from an easy-listening, chill-out piece to something with a trance or artcore twist!
- Xilonen: I can't wait to see what you come up with.
- Paimon: Uh-huh, yeah, whatever you say... Well, sounds like something you can do, right, (Traveler)?
- Yeah, music and games! Right up my alley!
- Sure! I'll give it my best shot!
- Mualani: Yes! That's the spirit! As long as you and Paimon can play your hearts out, it's mission accomplished!
- Mualani: Oh, and I'll grab some snacks and drinks for the rest of us while we watch!
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: Just remember to pace yourself, okay, Traveler?
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: I'm sure you don't want an endless loop of Dance-Off Stage music stuck in your head before bed tonight.
- Paimon: Well, thanks, everyone! This sounds like a blast!
- Paimon: Plus, if Xilonen's the one DJ-ing, an endless loop of music in our dreams... doesn't sound too bad!
A Style-Fusion Symposium
Main article: A Style-Fusion Symposium
Quest DescriptionAfter playing Rhythm Ball for a while, some of your companions want to share their thoughts with you...
- (After completing all stages)
- Mualani: Mizuki! Mizuki! Amina just told me some amazing news!
- Mualani: Thanks to the party, the People of the Springs had forty percent more visitors than normal! And to think, we barely did anything to promote it!
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: That's great! I also have some good news... Over the past few days, the number of patients at my practice has dropped by ninety percent!
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: If our goal was to lift people's spirits and give them a space to let go of their worries, I think we can safely say... That's a job well done!
- Mualani: Haha, then let's go even bigger next time! Add even more games!
- Mualani: That way, there's something for everyone — hot springs if you want relaxation, games if you want fun... As far as vacations go, you can't get much better than that!
- Paimon: Hey! Mualani! Mizuki!
- The musical genius has returned!
- Two happy visitors here to give you a five-star review!
- Mualani: Hehe, say no more! It's written all over your face! You had a blast, didn't you?
- Paimon: Are you kidding!? An all-you-can-eat, self-serve buffet? Paimon was on cloud nine! She had five servings of Hot Spring O'Clock!
- Paimon: And (Traveler) was even more obsessed with the Rhythm Ball than Paimon with the free food!
- Ehe.
- No, no, no. Nothing can compare to your obsession with food!
- Mualani: Honestly, watching you play was quite the spectacle! An expert performance if I ever saw one!
- Mualani: You should help me brainstorm the next time we host something like this! We can come up with even more fun games!
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: As far as I know, that does seem to be one of (Traveler)'s many talents.
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: I look forward to working with you again, Miss Mualani. Although, it would be easier if you had a designated office space... Why don't I help you open a consultancy?
- Mualani: Ooh, I like the sound of that! Let me ask around! If there's space... We could put it right next to your clinic!
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: Good idea! I'd love nothing more than to be neighbors.
- Man, I want to live here, too!
- More time in the People of the Springs... Count us in!
- Paimon: Ooh, all-you-can-eat buffets and hot springs every day... Oh yeah, that sounds like the life, hehe...
- Xilonen: Well, if you had a permanent address, it would be easier to track you down if we need something.
- Xilonen: Never knew the day would come when I'd sound like one of my clients.
- Paimon: Oh, Xilonen!
- Paimon: The music you picked for Rhythm Ball was excellent! Every time we played the game, we would start dancing before we knew it!
- Xilonen: Glad to hear it.
- Xilonen: From what I've observed over the past few days, you have great potential as "fusion" artists.
- Xilonen: It could be because you've encountered music from all sorts of different cultures. When you're immersed in the melody, it's almost like you can incorporate different beats on instinct.
- Xilonen: The most cutting-edge music often involves some form of "fusion." So, I have a feeling I'll be coming to you for inspiration one day.
- Xilonen: Here, I want you to have this. Give it a listen sometime.
- Paimon: What is it?
- Xilonen's Note
- According to my observations, musical styles on the cutting edge of theory tend to lean toward fusion, absorbing elements from multiple perspectives that are in tension with one another, such as composition, instrumentation, and tone, through which composers of such music make breakthroughs and find new ways to improve. Traditional musical styles never had clear boundaries in the first place, and those are blurring ever further...
- Reaching the pinnacle of one's music and technique is an admirable deed, but for creators who have yet to attain the level of a "master for life" and ordinary audiences both, sticking to a single style is not wise, if one wishes to improve one's musical appreciation and creativity.
- Technology and human ears all have limits, and it would undoubtedly be a pity to stray into territory that no one can follow you into, chasing after complex or unpopular harmonies, or developing machine-esque performance techniques.
- So yeah, I hope you'll enjoy the songs on this disc. Even if you don't intend to create any music, it'd be great to introduce yourself to a few new styles and discover new, moving melodies.
- Mualani: No way! One of Xilonen's mixtapes! At Xochicuicatl Records, that would sell in a heartbeat!
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: Ah, yes. Not everyone can get their hands on the records or equipment Miss Xilonen recommends. It's a source of anxiety for some people. I once treated a patient for that very reason...
- Xilonen: ...You can treat even that, Miss Mizuki?
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: All I did was help her manage her emotions. I told her to consider getting a job at the record store. Then, she would be one of the first to get information on your latest recommendations.
- Xilonen: Hah, good idea... I just hope she can keep it to herself, or job applications are about to become just as hard to snag...
- Well, thanks for this.
- I'll give it a good listen.
- Paimon: Yeah! Paimon can't wait to hear it!
- Paimon: Next time, we'll help you come up with an even better game... With music that's just as amazing as this time, of course!
- Mualani: That's a promise! People won't know what hit 'em!
- Paimon: Man, the party isn't even over, and Paimon already can't wait for the next one! The People of the Springs really know how to live it up...
Open-World Dialogue
Mualani
- (Talk to Mualani)
- Mualani: Yo, (Traveler), don't you look full of energy!
- What kind of songs do you like, Mualani?
- Mualani: Me? I'm fine with pretty much anything!
- Mualani: Relaxing melodies, heart-pumping beats, jaunty tunes — I love 'em all!
- Mualani: Ah, but I'm not great at rocking out to music that's a bit more solemn and formal... I don't listen to such songs often, but I don't dislike them, either!
- Do you have any advice for the game?
- Mualani: Hmm, let me jog the ol' noggin...
- Mualani: Based on my experience playing beach volleyball, I think it's easy to slip up if you get anxious.
- Mualani: Sometimes, when I see the ball flying at me, I freeze up thinking of all the ways I can hit it back!
- Mualani: So don't sweat the small stuff. Just go with the flow, y'know?
- Makes sense. I'll give it a try!
- Mualani: Of course, you can't rely solely on your intuition for contests of strategy, or when things get serious. You gotta look before you leap, too!
- Mualani: Everything in moderation!
- Great game. I wanna go again!
- Mualani: Look at you go! With your skills and a little more practice, you'll set some unbeatable records in no time — I know it!
Xilonen
- (Talk to Xilonen)
- Xilonen: Looking good, (Traveler)! You're well on your way to becoming an improv master, I'd say.
- Do you have any tips, Xilonen?
- Xilonen: Do I ever. Seems like you're interested in the nitty-gritty of DJ-ing, huh?
- Xilonen: Well, then. First up, a good DJ knows their equipment.
- Xilonen: I've collected a number of schematics from making lots of music equipment in the past. Feel free to pick 'em up next time you swing by.
- Xilonen: Learning theory's always the blandest part of picking up new music techniques. But once you nail the basics, you'll improve by leaps and bounds.
- Xilonen: I'm expecting great things from you, alright?
- Xilonen, what style of music's your favorite?
- Xilonen: My favorite style...? Hmm, hard to say.
- Xilonen: Way I see it, the overall production quality of a song's the most important...
- Xilonen: The melody's flow, the arrangement of the piece, the instruments chosen, the recording quality, and overall processing... They've all got standards to meet.
- Xilonen: Mainstream styles sometimes produce pieces with exceptional musicality. Conversely, seemingly sophisticated niche styles might :churn out less-than-ideal work.
- Xilonen: And fooling your audience with a sloppy piece of music by simply slapping a "niche" label on seems... I don't know, rather base?
- Yeah, you can't just fake it and hope to make it.
- Maybe it's best to ignore the labels...
- Xilonen: In short, there are no shortcuts when it comes to learning music theory, (Traveler).
- Xilonen: The basics are the most important. I'm sure you'll study hard, though.
- I'll keep looking for inspiration, then.
- Xilonen: If you've got any good ideas, feel free to just hum 'em for me. I'll jot them down.
Yumemizuki Mizuki
- (Talk to Yumemizuki Mizuki)
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: Mmm... I can feel the warmth of your emotions from how much you enjoyed the game. Heehee. I'm sure you'll have sweet, relaxing dreams tonight.
- Do you also listen to fast-paced music, Mizuki?
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: That's a... classic line of questioning.
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: Well, I'll listen to whatever my friends recommend, even if it's not to my tastes. I wouldn't want to let them down, after all.
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: I can enjoy lively music, but I prefer soothing, elegant tunes. I can't say I particularly care for instrumental variety or technical sophistication.
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: As long as the melody is pleasing to the ears, even if it's a cappella or a slow solo, they won't feel bland to me. Rather, I find they exude a sense of beautiful serenity.
- Same here.
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: Well... next time you find yourself a free moment, how about I show you some of my favorites? I can brew some tea, prepare some snacks... And we can take our time enjoying them.
- Maybe give some new styles a chance?
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: Why not? With your tastes, I'm sure you can show me some hidden gems outside of my usual wheelhouse. If you've got a free moment, don't be shy, okay?
- I want to see you give the game a try.
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: I sure could... but that might be flouting the rules.
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: As one of the designers, I know the ins and outs of every stage. It might be a little boring for you to watch.
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: Games work best with the element of surprise, and designers should think outside the box to create that. Becoming predictable is the mark of bad development.
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: Of course, drawing outside the box is your field of expertise.
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: I do hope you can take part in game development and planning in the future. I'd love to play something you designed~
- Hope you rest well too, Mizuki.
- Yumemizuki Mizuki: Don't worry. Inviting you here makes this event a success in my book. I'm sure my sleep tonight will be thrice as restful as usual~