Neon Newsletter 11/18/25 - We're on patreon now

[PRODUCER]: Hey there, folks, I'm here with Gleam going over some of our accomplishments, goals, and upcoming releases!

[GLEAM]: Mhm! On Saturday, I got the treat of doing a marathon stream full playthrough of the "Crimson Mode" mod of Devil May Cry 3 Special Edition for the first time! Quite possibly my favorite mod, of my favorite game!

[PRODUCER]: It was definitely impressive to watch. The speed at which you de-rusted was admirable. Plus, speaking from behind the scenes, watching you grind red orbs in the bloody palace to unlock the full move-set and upgrades, I must say I'm excited to see what combos you can make in this mode.

[GLEAM]: I think my favorite change is adding in-air launchers to Agni & Rudra and Beowulf. Anyway, after that, on the next day, I cheered you on while you did the editing on it. Cutting out four hours of redundant footage from twelve? That's what I call impressive.

[PRODUCER]: Fair enough! Plus we've got it all uploaded to youtube already, scheduled to go out one mission a day every day till the finale on December 6th! I imagine you'll be lightyears ahead of how skilled you are now by then, of course. Got any plans for that?

[GLEAM]: Good question! I'm hoping to record enough footage for a combo music video for you to put together in time to release on the same day, as a sort of contrast! Speaking of contrast, DMC is a LOT faster paced in terms of inputs than Souls-like games such as Bleak Faith. I think character-action/stylish games are at the top of my genre preference triangle, with stealth action games like Dishonored or Metal Gear Solid and souls-like games such as Elden Ring.

[PRODUCER]: Not counting roguelikes?

[GLEAM]: I'd say at this point, "roguelike" isn't a genre unto itself so much as a genre modifier.

[PRODUCER]: Ahh. Care to elaborate?

[GLEAM]: Not until we address the fire in the room.

[PRODUCER]: What, this? This is fine.

[GLEAM]: Cats aren't that dumb, buddy. We're in pretty dire straights in the financials.

[PRODUCER]: Okay, that's true. It sucks to admit, but I don't think we have the physical energy to keep this up if we also go back to a full time job, especially at a restaurant.

[GLEAM]: On top of that, we want to go back to college and y'know, get a degree?

[PRODUCER]: I will admit a deep interest in social and philosophical anthropology. And also the Japanese language. And video editing, obviously.

[GLEAM]: So a few degrees then. And do you really think you can carry all that weight at the same time?

[PRODUCER]: Empirical evidence points to 'no'.

[GLEAM]: Right. And I want to keep doing this! So damn bad. And I know you do too!

[PRODUCER]: Yeah, you're right. As usual. But as it is, the bank account won't last us through the month. It's so frustrating, because if we'd started this as SOON as we possibly could've, we might already have been successful. But that would've been over a decade ago. And even now, we're definitely growing, and learning, and making what really seems like progress!

[GLEAM]: But, in the face of expenses and debt, you can't substitute progress for income.

[PRODUCER]: I know, I know. It's messed up, I think about like, if we had wealthy connections, but so far as I know, we have, at best, surviving connections.

[GLEAM]: You mean friends?

[PRODUCER]: Yeah. It's late, we should probably wrap this up.

[GLEAM]: Okies~

[GLEAM]: And if you read this far, consider throwing some funds our way, huh?

Ayakashima Info Radio Premiere - AIR_001

 Listen:

Transcript Follows:

Earth time signature locked: 2025 common era, October Sixteenth.

Moon phase: Waning Crescent.

Signal Stability Confirmed - Ayakashima Information Radio Welcomes You.

Ayakashima recently opened its gates to the human realm, resulting in an influx of energy and activity. This has prompted the Tourism Board to form the Ayakashima Mystery Investigation Tourism Initiative, or AMITI. Visitors are strongly encouraged to participate, as, unchecked, these mysteries could grow past mere mischief.

As of right now, an enigmatic and amnesiac spirit has arrived in Ayakashima from realms unknown. There are only three certainties at this point: They weren’t employed by anyone else, they didn’t meet a violent end, and they need YOUR help!

Today’s Sponsor is the new Terror-Forming Pillow from Sweet Nightmares. Tired of waking up bored? Need more heart-pounding excitement in your life? Coffee just not quite cutting it anymore? Sweet Nightmares’ new Terror-Forming Pillow is guaranteed to haunt your dreams with the most awfully pleasant experiences you can imagine! 

Don’t wake up with a sigh, wake up with a scream!

This week’s featured creature is a classic all-star, the moth-man. First sighted within the human realm in November 1966, in the city of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, the moth-man is described as slender, muscular, and approximately seven feet tall, with hypnotically glowing red eyes and a ten foot wingspan. Some witnesses reported it “chasing” their cars while emitting a screeching sound.

While potentially disturbing, the moth-man does not appear to be threatening so much as warning.

In the human realm, moth-man sightings most commonly occur around dangerous areas and especially before tragedies.

During my travels in the greater neon realm, I once encountered a nesting site inhabited by creatures matching these descriptions, and found them to be quite friendly, even playful. I observed the juveniles playing a game not unlike “tag” and witnessed a full grown specimen return to the nest with an immense beetle-like creature. Given its similar size and coloration to the cars of the human realm, I theorize that instances of cars being chased is a simple case of mistaken identity. If your car *is* picked up by a moth-man or similar entity, I’d advice vacating it before it has been lifted to an unsafe height.

Now, before I leave you, I’d like to thank some invaluable contributors: P-chan, Aster*, and a talking raccoon I found in a dumpster.

This has been Ayakashima Info Radio, and remember, not everything unseen is real.

A Little About Ayakashima

 Warning: Meta/Immersion Breaking Content In File

Ayakashima - A portmanteau of Ayakashi(A Japanese collective term for Yokai that appear above water) and Shima(Meaning Island) - This has a dual meaning: It is an island which *houses* yokai, but it itself as an otherworldly emanation is also, technically, a yokai.

[Producer Note/IB: I wanted a setting in which casual community roleplay could take place (and in which I could write stories at the very least) and decided on Ayakashima due to my enduring interest in religion, mythology and folklore, particularly yokai and faeries. It has intentionally broad entry criterion - mythical creatures and those in touch with them. Just about any character I could imagine wanting to create could be justified to visit there. This is my Arkham.]

Despite being an island, Ayakashima serves as a crossroads, or meeting point, as well as a haven for the supernatural. The city, though enigmatic and often shifting over time, has a welcoming aura and cheerful air.

Districts of Ayakashima

Entertainment District

Rotating Amusement Park (Different Park EVERY Time!)

Fractal Theater.

A Really Big Field.

Agricultural District

Grain Fields

Orchards

Week-long Woods

Aquaculture Sub-zone

Beach. Cliff? Beach.

Transit Depot

Myth-rail Station

Sales District

Shop Towers Street (Skyscrapers with stores on the bottom and assembly/storage in upper floors.)

Open Air Market (Free Registration To Sell and/or Give Away Items.)

Unscheduled Ayakashima Shrine Street Sing-Along

 The flickering sun traces its lazy path along the horizon, peeking out over the monochrome ocean. A strong and playful wind is about today, blustering through the streets and carrying secrets. Gleam listened, more to make the wind feel good about itself than to learn anything. 

She was restless. This scheme was exciting, and anxiety is excitement’s other face. 

To make matters worse, the Tourism Board had put her effectively entirely in charge of feet on the street promotion. Sure, her producer was technically doing the same job, but the overlap was quite literally nonexistent. Completely different worlds. Still, she was grateful. She wouldn’t have been capable of bridging the gap alone. Alone… well, she never really was, but when someone (or something) is always there, you eventually become inured to it. Familiarity breeds contempt, it is said. And even in this vast city, with its bustling streets and clamorous festivals, she was melancholy. 

A part of her she couldn’t silence saw the shadows and phantoms for what they were. But what cannot be silenced, can be ignored. At least somewhat. She hums a little one-and-two three-and-four rhythm, harmonizing with her own echo. A song reaches her lips, and she starts to sing to the shadows in the streets, the poltergeists on her porch.

“The sun and the moon and the stars

They could each and every one

All of them could someday be ours

But you can’t finish what hasn’t begun”

The wind leaves her side to carry the song.

“The stars and the sun and the moon

Tell me something new is coming soon

So lend me an eye and an ear

Though there’s always something to fear”

Other voices take up the tune, humming along.

“The moon and the stars and the sun

Sing to me even failure is fun

When you give it all of your all

It’s okay to fall, to fall fall fall”

The city is still. Silent but for the song and the wind.

“Because down is a direction

And directions are relative

And so, so long as you function

You can change your own narrative

Start from the ending and begin

Start to build a better story

Learn the rules and loopholes and cracks

‘Cause when we understand surely

We’ll learn to have each other’s backs”

She isn’t crying, but tears are flowing down her cheeks nonetheless. A cry is a sound, and this was silent. She wept. A dream is a fragile thing, prone to vanish if looked at too closely. But what about the dreams that keep coming back? The dreams that haunt you more than any ghost every could? Those smoldering ambitions nearly smothered in your heart that cry out in yearning? 

We have resolved; to stoke our flame, burn bright and honest. Far better than choking on dead smoke.