The Lighthearted
The Exodites may not worship gods, but they do have the concept of heresy. There are ideas such that if an elf acts on, vocalizes, or advocates for them, they are punished with exile or death. The Exodites believe in the oneness of the elven race in one state, and that each Exodite elf is foremost a part of this state, which is synonymous with the elven race. Thus, each elf's life is for the state, and by extension, for all elves.
The Lighthearted, by and large, do not believe this. They do not believe in the oneness of the elven race, they disdain the military outlook of Exodus, or they may have come to sympathize with the gnomes of Khely. Some have even simply seen how the humans live, and found the freedom some of them have to carve their own paths too irresistible. Becoming Lighthearted begins with an idea, and far more elves entertain the idea than anyone is willing to admit. However, a rare few graduate to the level of resisting the commands of their ministers (even when they are not necessarily illegal by Exodite law), attempting to accumulate personal wealth, or leaving Exodus altogether.
Living side-by-side with humans in Fin-Allan has made Lighthearted ideas slightly more prevalent, though the Exodite hierarchy still cracks down on the slightest whiff of them spreading. Exodite society has no place for an elf who does not accept their place in the hierarchy, and they cannot risk the disintegration of the state of Exodus that would occur if large amounts of elves accepted these ideas.
The handful of Lighthearted that exist tend to live among humans, attempting to become accepted into the communities of other races. Some remain in Khely or Cymbar, though being a Lighthearted elf is an inherently risky proposition in places ruled by Exodus. Eventually, someone will ask who the elf's ruling minister is, and they will have no answer. Further afield, where elves are rare, being Lighthearted is less of a risk and if one does meet an elf outside Exodus-in-Prime, there is a good chance they count themselves as among the Lighthearted.
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