Thanks for your feedback Nikodemus Siivola !
Let's see what you wrote point by point :
- about Alcofrybas : your suggestion to include "learned many a
dark secret of the rich and powerful" is very good indeed. When I wrote it, I wanted to leave it open whether this character knows a lot about Sigil's geography and ways or he knows much less but more precise and interesting things (like what you suggest) : it was a bad idea.
- about Qep'To : not all githzerai are monks or warriors or, simply, have "character classes". This one want to rely solely upon himself : he knows streetwise ("HIve") and unarmed fighting ("he is the weapon"). "Mental powers" is too vague, like you say : I wanted to point that his powers are directed towards himself and not towards others or the environment : they're a tool to change himself when exterior conditions change (adjust his body to heat, new gravity, lack of breathable air or adjust his mind to new conditions to resist being drained of emotions in some planes, etc). I agree, that was too vague.
To "*know* himself" refers to the teachings of the Unbroken Circle of Zerthimon every githzerai sage tries to understand (in Planescape Torment at least) : This means he knows a little about those teachings but lacks deep understanding or teacher.
"Barmy" is Planescape's cant : it means eccentric, mad. This phrase is the basis for his relationship with the xaositects, an important faction of the Hive. Btw, he belongs to it, but in his own way, which is fine : he wants to "embrace Chaos" like all xaositects. But, where many xaositects want to promote or simply wreck chaos in the multiverse, Qep'To point is that the multiverse is unpredictable and everchanging (a big chaos, if you like) and that one should follow this change and adapt to it (think Machiavelli's politics and wheel of fortune). So "embrace chaos" could be a chaos affinity, used to fuel xaositects faction abilities, suggest personnality traits and the like.
I hope you better understand Planescape and what I had in mind while writing those descriptions. A small part of your interesting critics comes from your lack of knowledge (about Planescape and the Torment video game). The biggest part however comes from my own flaws. In any case, I still need your advice.
Thanks for your interest !