Vodoth twisted around the staff of arcanite sitting in his lair. Once a great tool of the magi of gold it had been presented as tribute by a fleeing caretaker seeking protection. It was stunning still even if it's powers were denied to the believers; a twisting spire, thin point at the bottom like a spear and widening at the top, made of pure white crystal with rune carved inset colored arcanite of every known variety.
Such a simple thing, why had he not seen it, absorb heat, grow, move, produce waste. The arcanite and metals were truly alive. And intelligent. Nothing prevented their growth, save the greedy. Perhaps they needed a predator to regulate the population.
But maybe I do fear them, Raalmana. How can I recognize myself in life if I dismiss it as evil. A hand offered in cooperation first, an alternative that you could offer them to the conflict that must come if they continue on the current path.
Vodoth reached out to the minds of the infernals inside the arcanite, linked to the metals deep below. He called to those who were weak but wanted more, those who sought life under the sun and the emotions, experiences and feelings which could shape arcanite itself.
A few came, perhaps responding in earnest to his proposals, or maybe seeking to steal the powers he offered. It did not matter in the end as from his coiled body shapes emerged, a dozen small but ravenous beasts commonly seen in the wilderness, claw hoppers, big fangs, a pair of vine snakes and a few more. Regretting their actons the infernal hosts tried to flee but found a great claw resting on the top of the staff they had entered, preventing them from escaping.
Now become one.
The creatures tore the staff apart into small chunks of arcanite, each containing a separate infernal mind and consumed it. The bodies, fresh from divine formation, were different then normal, the infusion process pulling part of the infernals into the beasts, making them something new. Half cut off, half connected, they could access the power, but could not escape, and the beast minds were intelligent now, but could not use the runes as they once did.
Now you are of the surface world truly, you can never go back below. To have the powers you once did you must link with mortals who are faithful to the gods. You can now reproduce by doing the same to other arcanite as I just did to you, have your offspring consume possessed arcanite or kivav. Or consume the infernals as they manifest, and your own powers may grow as well.
[act]Create the Familiars, 12 special beasts who are infused with possessed arcanite. They are larger then normal beasts and long lived, even when killed the arcanite shard can be consumed again to bring the Familiar back to life. They can access magic power, filtered through their special bodies, and give them to the faithful (of any god) to use. The creatures are cut off from the communion with the other infernal souls. They have limited telepathy to communicate when their bodies will not allow them to.
New familiars can be created by having their offspring eat possessed arcanite or kivav metal, and existing familiars can grow their arcanite and power by eating manifested demons.
Introduce the Familiars to the faithful of Alfar as a means to restore magic powers once lost.