Three years ago, in November of 2020. I made a joke comic using png's from the Tag Force games & Duel Links. Initially meant to be an in joke between me and my friends. It's turned into a 3 plus year epic, after I was galvanized by the mods of the Yugioh subreddit who deleted a post of the 1st issue for being "Low Effort".
This is the Epic Yugioh Web Comic, Issues 1 through 10. Unnoticed by Twitter, constantly downvoted on Imgur. This 300 plus issue series now resides her on Tumblr if for no other reason than to preserve my work.
Because while by all metrics we can measure, this comic is meaningless. I Give it Meaning by the simple Act of Creating it.
Formality in Cloud is determined mostly by your position relative to the speaker. Given that Cloud is majority-fae which can’t tell direct lies, the devil is in the details, and one of the ways that this comes up is in formality and how someone is addressed. Most beings in Cloud don’t have fixed genders either so that just makes how they’re addressed even more important.
So there’s 2 main ways that work together to talk about relationships: honorifics and names.
Honorifics are used by everyone for everyone and they’re the most basic part of speaking Cloudian and living in Cloud. They go something like this:
-kiso (younger than the speaker (mostly used for children, sometimes used for juniors who are a lot younger than you))
-tira (peer at acquaintance level, most often used when you’re not sure of the other being’s status relative to you, but also used to convey a sense of equality)
-tiro (friend around peer level (for example if -tira is the formal you, -tiro would be used where you would use the informal you))
-tera (friend who’s older or more senior than you or an acquaintance who you’re dealing with in a professional capacity)
-sikhe (Magistae level, usually used the same way Dr or Prof would be to humans, also a gesture of respect)
So for example within Grandparents of the Revolution, if we use Chrisl as a reference point, Soren and their siblings would technically be -kiso (so, Carrow-kiso for Soren, Iri-kiso (Yin), Auri-kiso (Jin), Hibou-kiso (Fei), Vrati-kiso (Castore), and when they’re younger, they would address Vic and Adri as Ygwitz-tiro (close friend but not family quite yet) and Cyne-tira (friendly acquaintance)) That’s why it’s such a great insult when like Soren is doing their presentation of ideas back before they know Chrisl and when asking questions, a faerie younger than Soren addresses them as ‘Carrow-kiso’, and why it’s significant later that Chrisl (sikhe level to most of the assembled) stands up and addresses Soren as ‘Carrow-tira’.
Then the other important thing to take note of is names.
So there’s three different types of names: your Tokia, your Koa and lastly your Sikaa
Your Tokia is the way most beings will address you in Cloud, and it’s the name you’re called when you first come. It’s still an actual name, and that’s the extent to which most beings will know of your name.
Your Koa is one step closer. It’s basically your name, but not your True Name, but it’s the name that you choose and the name that the beings you select as your family will address you by.
Your Sikaa is the most personal and thus the most dangerous. This is basically your True Name, and it’s given to you by your Sikaa, which is basically your chosen soulmate. It’s the deepest and most intimate bond and Name that anyone can give, and if you want something really really dangerous, that’s the Name that you need to give to tie magic to. No one except you and your Sikaa will know what your Sikaa (Name) is, unless you so choose to give it to someone you would trust with your very soul.
How it normally goes in Cloud is you start with -tira and then you go -tiro and then if they care about you and consider you family, they will give you their Koa.
Cloudian - Cirrostratus
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This card cannot be destroyed by battle. If this card is in face-up Defense Position, destroy it. When you Normal Summon this card, place 1 Fog Counter on it for each "Cloudian" monster on the field. You can remove 2 Fog Counters from this card to destroy 1 monster on the field.
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Can Be Found In: Gladiator's Assault (GLAS-EN011)
Cloudian is a group of monsters with a balanced combination of risks and rewards. Overall slow paced to other Decks, Cloudian takes advantage of its battle protection to keep a resiliant board as long as possible. As the Duel progresses they'll gather Fog counters, allowing them to pay for their effects with no limitations on how many times can be used each turn. While this might seem too dangerous to rely on due the speed of other Decks out there, Cloudian combines both WATER and Fairy options on its strategy to obtain a strong board in no time and start piling Fog counters in the following turns.
"Cloudian - Cirrostratus" is a good example of the average Cloudian monster, carrying pitiful stats yet with incredible lead potential when played along its options. Like many other Cloudians "Cirrostratus" cannot be defeated in battle, but if is in face-up Defense Position will be automatically destroyed. When Normal Summoned "Cirrostratus" will obtain as many Fog counters as Cloudians are on the whole field (including itself), which can remove two of them to use an ability to destroy any monster on the field. Although on its own "Cirrostratus" will only arrive with a single counter with no uses whatsoever, Cloudian Decks stand out with archetype sinergy along other options. Because of that and the only limitation being the number of counters available, "Cirrostratus" has the potential to wipe out entire boards on its own.
Despite their Type and Attribute giving them great options the archetype is in a bizarre spot, as members like "Cirrostratus" relies on Normal Summon alone to obtain counters and use their effects. However, while cards like "Double Summon" provides more Normal Summons to solve this issue in many scenarios, don't be afraid on using Special Summon effects to instead summon other Cloudians and thus prepare "Cirrostratus" own Normal Summon. From cards like "Valhalla, Hall of the Fallen" and "Summon Cloud" summoning Cloudians from our hand (The latter also summons from the Graveyard), to the effects of "Cloudian - Storm Dragon" and "Cloudian - Turbulence" gathering more members by their respective effects, is more about swarming the board to fully prepare "Cirrostratus" own Normal Summon with enough counters upon hitting the field. This might also lead to summoning other copies of "Cirrostratus" for this goal and other Cloudians’ effects, but don't be afraid to do so since they can work as materials for our Extra Deck if needed. Together with late game tools like "Salvage" and "Masked Chameleon" supporting the majority of Cloudians, if "Cirrostratus" isn't kept for its Normal Summon it will easily find another purpose in one way or another.
As just pointed out, "Cirrostratus" has enough opportunities to be Normal Summoned and have several Fog counters to work with (Gaining additional counters if the opponent also plays Cloudians). With the many summoning options for the rest of Cloudians and even its copies, "Cirrostratus" might be able to use its removal effect twice to deal with the opponent's most dangerous monster(s). While in common circumstances Cloudians will use their effects to then become materials, "Cirrostratus" and its allies can stay on the field as "Cloudian Squall" and "Cloudian - Storm Dragon" gives them counters while also assuring future Normal Summoned Cloudians gain their own. This is not only easy to do with the Cloudians' ability to avoid being destroyed in battle, but also cards like "Sea Lord's Amulet" and "The Sanctuary in the Sky" further reducing their weaknesses.Last but not least, if by any chance "Cirrostratus" cannot use its own counters, instead we can spend them on "Cloudian - Altus" to force the opponent to discard cards from their hand.
Cloudian is one of the weirdest archetypes out there, as despite their scarce pressence in today’s game cards like "Cloudian - Cirrostratus" shows how threatening they can become. Although obviously dependant of supporting cards, "Cirrostratus" has a more than assured field plagued with Cloudians to obtain as many Fog counters as possible from its Normal Summon. However, with great summoning tools from early to late game "Cirrostratus" can be more flexible on its performance and not narrow itself in its own effect, therefore taking a Special Summon approach to either assist gathering counters for other Cloudians or simply work as material. With the possibility to destroy several monsters in a single turn to then follow with an Extra Deck summon once the board is clear, "Cirrostratus" is proof that Cloudians shouldn't be underestimated.
Personal Rating: A
+ Cannot be destroyed in battle
+ Gains as many Fog counters as Cloudians on the field when Normal Summoned to activate its removal effect
+ Greatly supported in both summon and performance as well assisting other Cloudians and summons if needed
- Will destroy itself if is in face-up Defense Position
- Completely depends on other cards and effects
