The western expanse of Venalthier's frozen interior, stretching from the Crystal Coast in the northwest to the West Selengreyb lowlands in the south. Morelous is marginally more hospitable than Pale Death to the east. Conditions are no better, but occasional rocky outcrops provide minimal shelter and navigation points.
Geography
Morelous covers roughly 180 miles north to south and 120 miles east to west. The terrain is predominantly flat ice plain, similar to Pale Death, but punctuated by scattered rock formations where ancient mountains resist the glacial pressure. These outcrops, called "teeth" by the Nabuhe, rise 50-200 feet above the ice surface and occur roughly every 15-20 miles.
The region sits at lower elevation than the eastern interior, averaging 2,000-3,000 feet. This brings it closer to the moderating influence of the Dismar Deep, resulting in slightly less extreme conditions. "Slightly less extreme" in Venalthier still means temperatures averaging -25°C and persistent winds, but the difference between -25°C and -40°C is the difference between difficult survival and nearly impossible survival.
The ice here shows more variation than Pale Death's uniform white. Blue-tinged areas indicate compressed glacial ice reaching the surface; darker patches suggest volcanic rock just below the snow layer; occasional greenish zones mark where ancient algae somehow survive in the ice. The variation provides navigation references that Pale Death lacks entirely.
The Teeth
The rocky outcrops that define Morelous serve multiple purposes:
Navigation: Each tooth is distinctive: different height, different color, different profile. The Nabuhe have named all significant outcrops and use them as waypoints for travel. A journey across Morelous follows a chain of teeth rather than compass bearings alone.
Shelter: The leeward side of any tooth provides respite from the wind. Snow accumulates in these wind shadows, allowing construction of stable shelters. Expeditions plan their daily distances around reaching the next tooth before nightfall.
Resources: Some teeth contain caves or overhangs that offer more substantial shelter. A few have been developed into semi-permanent way stations, with cached supplies and improved shelter structures. The Nabuhe maintain these stations, though their locations aren't shared freely.
Danger: Predators know about the teeth too. Anything hunting on Morelous uses the outcrops as ambush points. Approaching a tooth carelessly is nearly as dangerous as not reaching one at all.
The Route to Scepter Mountains
Morelous provides the primary overland route between the Nabuhe settlements in East Whitewall and the coastal passes through the Scepter Mountains. This route sees the most traffic of any in Venalthier—which means perhaps a dozen parties per year in good conditions.
The journey covers approximately 150 miles across Morelous proper, following a chain of seven major teeth between the Whitewalls and the mountain foothills. Under optimal conditions, the crossing takes 5-7 days. Under normal conditions, 10-14 days is more realistic. Under poor conditions, the crossing doesn't happen.
Trade goods move along this route: Frostfire from the Nabuhe mines heading toward the coast for export; imported grain, metal tools, and luxuries heading back. The route's danger limits trade volume; only the most essential or valuable goods justify the risk.