Church of Eru Arda Heritage Site CE#1
Map:H26
The first of the Church of Eru's Arda Heritage Historical Preservation sites is at Lake Khelkeneni, on the Western flank of the Red Mountains. The site of a major Avari civilization in the first and second ages, it is believed to be the last remnant of Lake Cuiviénen, where Elves on Arda first awoke.
The first major restoration was the fortification (originally analogous to the inner bailey of the central keep of a great fortified city) at the base of the Eastern Peninsula that leads into the lake. This is, in and of itself, a strong fortification, and surrounding protective zones are being restored.
Three cohorts of Peacekeepers, currently from the 4th(Naval), 7th(Dragons), and 9th(Badgers) Legions, provide a significant stiffening of the Church's own troops, and Skycastles extend the Signal Company network from the Imperial Navy's timber operations at IN#38 and IN#39 on the Gulf of the Firstborn, as well as from OF#4 at Lygar Krâw in Northeastern Palisor and Argentum Capita in the Red Mountains.
The earthen wall around the lake that encloses what was once possibly the first Elven city anywhere is largely intact, and now patrolled, but only defended as an early warning system as it is more than 200 miles in perimeter.
Archeological exploration of the area continues; it is a huge area of rich sites, and many of the first displays of the Church's museum are relics from the area, carefully removed and restored after being documented in situ.
Plans to expand operations on the Cuiviénen site, as well as to start new sites at the Grey Havens, Lothlorien, Rivendell, Ost-in-Edhil, and Tharanduil's halls in Mirkwood are underway. Cooperation from the allied Western nations has been enthusiastic, and scouting teams from the Church of Eru Ilùvatar with protection details from the Peacekeepers are already pinning down possible sites in all these areas. Several other potential projects, relating to human and dwarvish history, including Tol Eressëa, Moria, and Mt. Gundabad are in early planning.
