Hm. HMM.

Okay, I really like Kali, but if you do end up deciding that deities are off limits, I did come up with another idea today that I could try.

Azazel, the Scapegoat. Take a more "bullied kid" approach to her backstory and personality. Can summon hands still, but only one or two. Could do something with the laying on of hands ritual (curses?) and summon chains of darkness to bind enemies and cause general havok. Sacrificial decoy dolls could also be a thing, to draw enemy fire (and maybe cast hexes? I like hexes).

It's a complete 180 in tone at this point but I like non-gloomy dark mages and can always do another.