How about Gods who are like the people. There are not many truly evil people who love torturing people and bloodshed, but most are evil because of how they perceive the world and are generally negligent of consequences to their actions. A change of pace to a more "realistic" type of character who is evil not because he enjoys it, but because their actions are a means to an end (I have to get the information somehow, so I choose to torture it out because it is quickest...) Or something like the Kender race from Dragonlance - I am sure many would perceive them as evil for always stealing and causing mischief, but they are just curious and like shiny things.
