I think the Cipher trait is someone that’s really hard to follow or get a lock on. It’s almost supernatural how hard they are to find. The cryptic trait is someone who speaks mysteriously, like a Gandalf figure, or a sage.
Drop-dead gorgeous is very very beautiful. As beautiful as the nymphs who you might die from wonder by looking at, metaphorically.
No idioms. Just odd fears.
A flight of fancy is an urge or thought that affects you. Flights of murderous fancy means that your character gets murderous urges and daydreams about killi things.
Gerbil brain. Probably.
He’s a Jonah. Jonahs used to be sailors renowned for being unlucky, and having their ships sink (leaving the Jonah the only survivor)
Inured. Yeah, tough and a little unfeeling.
Involuntary shudders. The kind of shakes which take place over the whole body, and tend to be related to unpleasant feelings or memories.
Loathsome and twisted. Ugly, a perversion of the natural order. Hateful and horrible inside and out.
Low Cunning. The sort of intelligence that tells you how best to hurt someone, how to lay traps for her and make their life hell. The type of cunning predators have.
No nonsense. Does not accept nonsense from people. An extremely sensible person, often with little sense of humour.
Oikofugic. Smells like a horse (I think)
Rarified. Akers the,selves apart from normal people. Noble or otherwise, this person does not participate in activities considered everyday.
Recondite. Little known. Something or someone people know little about.
Reviled. Hated.
Seen not heard. Someone who serves silently from the background. Typical of a servant or a little child.
Taste for Man-Flesh. Enjoys eating the meat of human beings.
Well Appointed. Difficult one, would need my book and Internet to capture well.