unusual, or

downtown
historic downtown unusual is every small town tourist's dream. densely populated with unique souvenir shops on every corner alongside kitschy bed and breakfasts, mostly on the "old town" side that refuses to even utter the words renovation or modern. the hustle and bustle of downtown belongs to the newer side which is where you'll find unusual's party scene, campus dorms, and luxury based apartment buildings.

graymire
nestled on the edge of dense forest, graymire is not only in reference to the community but the surrounding wilderness as well. in terms of real estate, graymire ranges from quaint suburban blocks of housing to reclusive and rundown log cabins in the middle of the woods. there's an eerie motel inconveniently out of the way of any main road, a covered bridge said to be the final resting place of a violent spirit, and . general vibe varies, can be terrifying or enchanted depending on which area you find yourself in.



businesses
businesses in unusual are primarily located in downtown but there are a few spread out in the more suburban areas as well as on the outskirts of the forest. if you wish to claim a business for your character you may do so but bear in mind you may be asked to contribute heavily to plot at some point! if you wish for your character to work at a business that is claimed by another member we ask that you work with that member as there may be limited staff or specific ideas that character has for the staff. if your character owns one of the local businesses we encourage you to work with incoming and current members looking for employment. no character can claim public entities such as the unusual hospital, city hall, schools, fire department, library, etc. these are all owned by the town. you may freely claim a position within those establishments, however.


๐Ÿ“cemetery
as old as unusual itself and nestled partially on a hillside between downtown and graymire, the unusual cemetery has suffered many a tragedy. most recently in the 90s when increased rainfall caused landslides and numerous graves to unearth. the flooding through graymire resulted in the town's very own version of the river styx. while the graves have since been relocated, nearby residential homes have a hard time keeping owners.

the crypt
a bar set up in a deconsecrated church, located in downtown unusual. it's been around since the seventies and has been the most popular spot for partying outside of campus housing ever since. it's perfect for catching some live music from the occasional band or dj set, or grabbing a drink of any variety and source.

๐Ÿ“the grove
a seemingly innocent clearing in the woods with some funky rocks and tree arrangements. some say it's a faerie portal, others a hellmouth. either way there's no denying it's a beacon of power and a favorite spot for magically sensitive beings to channel the energy that bleeds from it.

helsing oddities
helsing oddities is home to unusual's oldest and finest antiques shop, littered with many items that will intrigue the imagination. and perhaps even leave you cursed. the items are pricey but they are rare, unique and all riddled with history.

๐Ÿ“lake unusual
lake unusual is around 2,000 acres wide which is just enough to swim in and camp around. there are designated areas for beach parties, swimming, fishing and other events. lakeside homes are the most expensive real estate in unusual and are coveted by tourists looking to get away for a long weekend. there's an urban legend that if you swim after dark you'll be dragged under to your doom.

pizza palace
pizzeria from the 1980s that never updated its massive arcade or creepy singing animatronics. the prize booth is pretty solid though. weekends are normally booked up with birthday parties still as it's almost a rite of passage for locals to have at least one birthday celebration here. the missing persons cases are all a coincidence, of course.


unusual public library
located in one of the oldest buildings in downtown. it closes before dark because, while it's ghost-free in the daytime, odd things occur overnight. four high school students in the 70s disappeared after attempting a sleepover there on a dare, and now no one is permitted on site after the sun goes down.

redrum cinema + drive-in
redrum cinema is a historic theater housing 10 screens for cinema, two stages for performing-arts events & community activities. the cinema suffers frequent disembodied voices while the drive-in, which is only open from may 1st - november 10th, is rumored to be covering up a dark secret.

sacred grounds
while unusual does have the typical chain store locations, the real java gem is sacred grounds. the locally owned business focuses on keeping everyone caffeinated and filled with tasty and freshly made daily pastries, bagels and donuts. and yes, they do have species-specific drinks and delights!

the shop-n-drop
part grocery store, part thrift store, full efficiency. in business since the 1870s, the shop-n-drop remains focused on community outreach and providing goods and services to those in need. residents are encouraged to donate clothing, appliances, toys and more... haunted, or not!

unusual fm
this local radio station plays local music, has local talk shows: advice segments, confessionals and segments that allow callers to call in and raise grievances with town officials anonymously. they also take song requests. this station is publicly funded through fundraisers and is often played in local businesses.

wicks
local covens consisting of witches and warlocks in unusual call wicks home. it has every supply and ingredient anyone dabbling in magic could possibly need and, is miraculously bigger on the inside. need a rare item? the shop's witchy experts can find and order it special just for you. need a quick potion lesson? the staff will sort you out.