Well, here are some of my old DM'ng notes on role-playing the Githzerai for a game I ran. Let me know if this helps
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"Better the heartfelt devotion of a free soul than the grudging obedience of a slave."—Githzerai saying.
“Always be aware of the threats to freedom. Always be aware of your individuality, and show honor to those individuals who prove worthy of it. Destroy all oppressors, liars and traitors, showing as little mercy as they would to you. Choose your own fate, and live to honor it.”
Traits: Humorless, unfriendly, cautious, monastic, loyal, lonely, grim, somber, free-willed, despise slavery of intelligent creatures of any sort, strong sense of individuality, repressed, hard-hearted, quiet
Physical descriptions: Their features and skin tone recall a blend of Caucasians and Mongolians that seem somehow sharpened, with yellow or grey eyes. Males usually sport long hair and whispy moustaches and goatees; females tend to keep their heads and bodies covered out of modesty. Githzerai tend to dress conservatively, and are fond of understastated robes and tunics worn over any armor they possess. They favor browns, greys and other earth tones.
Names:
Male: Arith, Zaknum, Gilsitharr, Aszathath, Rahk, Harr'k, Sl'tis, Kzastaan.
Female: Narniss, Arsill, Naranthis, S'lathis, Rathassa, L'liness.
History: Both races once were men who were enslaved and treated like beasts by the mind flayers. This situation lasted several centuries, until a woman named Gith took command of the rebels. The battle was long and bloody, but in the end the slaves conquered their freedom. Some of them (the githyanki) stayed faithful to Gith, while others, the Githzerai, decided to follow a powerful magic user named Zerthimon who proclaimed himself their king and subsequently their god. Zerthimon revolted against Gith because he thought she was hateful and unfit to rule the people. A great battle followed: the people was divided between the githzerai, followers of Zerthimon, and the githyanki, followers of Gith. Zerthimon died in the conflict, but with his sacrifice he freed the Githzerai from Gith: the Githzerai believe that he will one day come back as a god and will take them to another plane. This racial conflict between Githzerai and Githyanki has lasted millennia and it doesn't seem to be going to end.
Githzerai society: the Githzerai mainly live in the plane of Limbo, where they have fortresses and are very powerful. Each of this fortresses counts about 3000 Githzerai under a supreme chief. Others, instead, live in cities with 100000 or more people and hold everything under control, in a plane that is chaotic and impredictable for others. A significative example is Shrakt'tor, headquarter and capital, which counts two millions Githzerai: here the most important nobles and generals dwell, to decide the strategies to fight the githyanki and the mind flayers. There is noone in Limbo who can challenge the power of Shrakt'tor or its numerous population.
Presence on the Prime: The Githzerai fortresses on the Prime Material Plane are few, but important, they have enormous crude and square towers with adamantite walls dominating the arid plains and each contains about 500 githzerai, among which the supreme chief. No plant nor animal lives near these fortresses and the terrain is reduce to dry land for kilometers: it's not clear whether this is a reaction of the land to the foreign substance of which they are made or if it's the work of the Githzerai mages, who try to keep other creatures away. The most probable aim of these fortresses is to control the githyanki. The githzerai, though not particularly violent, don't want to conquer the Prime Material like the githyanki do, but they know that, should their enemies be able to conquer it, they will become stronger and more dangerous. So the githzerai keep an eye on the githyanki's progresses and lead offensives targeted to their strongholds to slow their expansion. During these assault the githzerai don't attack willingly the inhabitants of the Prime Material (humans, demihumans, humanoids, etc..), but aren't willing to renounce to a well placed offensive only to respect their rights: the end justifies the means.
Glossary:
Anarch: A Githzerai with the gift to shape the formless matter of Limbo into landscapes and buildings.
Gith: The great warrior-heroine whom led the revolt against the Illithid and freed the slaves that later went on to become the Githyanki and Githzerai.
Rrakkma: A band 30-60 Githzerai formed for the purpose of hunting Illithids. For roughly three months a Rrakkma will roam the planes searching for groups of Illithids and destroying them. These bands are very popular in Githzerai society and it is an honor to serve in one.
Shra’kt’lor: The largest Githzerai city, center of magical training and where the military and political leaders of the Githzerai reside. It is built upon a gigantic rock, twenty miles in diameter with a population is over 2 million people who are housed within this gigantic stronghold. The city is surrounded by islands maintened by the Anarchs that are used for farming and such. Beside the city itself is the Scattered Quarter, a huge gathering of tents, in which foreigners are allowed to live. The Scattered Quarter easily houses tens of thousands, but is only allowed on one side of wall that surrounds the city. The opposite side has the Breath of Zerthimon, an ancient volcano, and the Spytower. The spytower is an ancient construct that was once used to imprison spies until they starve to death. The city itself is made up of seven rings of gigantic granite walls. Merchants and visitors are welcome, but carefully scrutinized.
Zaerith Menyar-Ag-Gith: The immortal king of the Githzerai. Under his direction the Githzerai plan raids on both the Githyanki and Illithids. King Zaerith also encourages thievery and stealth, believing them useful to use against their enemies. The king opposes Zerhism, seeing the Zerth’s as a threat to his rule. Unfortunately for him the legend is well entrenched in Githzerai society and he grudgingly tolerates it.
Zerhism: The religion of those that follow Zerthimon
Zerth: A follower of Zerhism.
Zerth’Ad’Lun: A well known monestary run by Master Belthomais.
Zerthimon: A powerful magic user whom rebelled against the Illithid slave-lords. After Gith’s successful overthrow of the Illithid, Zerthimon disagreed with Gith, seeing her as too hateful and unfit to rule the people. After he was proclaimed king of the Githzerai, a great battle between the followers of Gith (Githyanki) and the followers of Zerthimon (Githzerai) divided the people. Zerthimon died in the conflict, but his sacrifice freed the Githzerai from Gith. He is the most revered figure for the Githzerai who believe that he will one day return as a god and take all the Zerth’s to paradise.
Zerthin: The Rule of Zerth’Ad’Lun: Dsorder rages without, calm reigns within.
Zudai-zi: Holy place
