The dunes

[Greta]

An area of the world where death and anguish are so prevailing that people are [emotionally scarred] for life.
Source: In Final Fantasy XI Valkurm [Dunes] (Shortened to The Dunes) was an area where low level players went to experience their first in game parties. This was generally a [learning experience] because leveling in this area was so difficult. As a result it became a bit of a test for people to see if they could survive the rigors of the rest of the game. As a result of its Infamy any place, in a new game, with a similar theme of being a Low Level area with a high death rate is generally called The Dunes