Prague

Lore & Background

Prague in the Shadowrun world is a city that has weathered the Awakening and the Crash 2.0 with a unique resilience. After the collapse of the German government, Prague declared itself an anarchist free state—a chaotic but fiercely independent zone where corporations, gangs, and shadowrunners vie for control. The city is a patchwork of districts, from the medieval Old Town to the corporate-controlled arcologies, all connected by a labyrinthine metro system that serves as a lifeline for its inhabitants. The city's magical landscape is equally complex. The Vltava River is a powerful mana line, and the city is dotted with ley line nexuses, making it a hotspot for magical activity. The infamous 'Prague Ghost' phenomenon—a spectral, data-eating entity that haunts the Matrix—is a local legend that proves all too real. Prague's history as a center of alchemy and occultism has left a deep imprint, with hidden magical societies and ancient artifacts lurking beneath its streets. Politically, Prague is a powder keg. The anarchist government is fragile, constantly threatened by corporate interests like Saeder-Krupp and the Humanis Policlub. The city's fate becomes the central conflict of *Shadowrun: Dragonfall*, as a shadowrunning team uncovers a plot involving a dragon named Feuerschwinge (Firewing) and a secret project that could reshape the balance of power in Europe. The player's actions in Prague determine whether the city remains free or falls under corporate or draconic control.

In Their Own Story

The rain slicked the cobblestones of the Old Town, turning the streetlights into blurred halos. Karma, the team's decker, leaned against a gargoyle-spout, her eyes glazed as she jacked into the local node. 'Ghost's awake tonight,' she muttered. 'I can feel it scraping at the edges.' The rest of the team tensed, hands hovering over weapons. In Prague, even the Matrix had teeth. A distant scream echoed from the metro entrance, swallowed by the hiss of a passing tram. Somewhere, a dragon was dreaming, and the city held its breath.

Reader's Guide

Prague is the central hub and primary location of *Shadowrun: Dragonfall*. It is not just a backdrop but an active character in the game's narrative, with its districts, factions, and history directly influencing the player's missions and choices. The city is divided into several key areas: the Old Town, a historic district with narrow streets and magical hotspots; the Kreuzbasar, a bustling black market and neutral ground for shadowrunners; and the corporate arcologies, sterile fortresses of power. The metro system serves as the primary means of travel, connecting these disparate zones and acting as a lifeline for runners moving between jobs. Each district has its own flavor and dangers—the Old Town's ley lines can twist a spellcaster's magic in unexpected ways, while the arcologies are patrolled by lethal security drones and corporate HTR teams. The Kreuzbasar offers the best gear and contacts, but its neutrality is enforced by the anarchist council's fragile truce, and one wrong move can spark a gang war.

Did You Know?

• The Prague Ghost is a unique data entity that can only be encountered in the city's Matrix, and it is tied to the events of the Dragonfall campaign.
• Prague's anarchist government was established after the Crash 2.0, when the German Alliance collapsed and the city declared itself an independent free state.
• The Kreuzbasar district is named after a real-world location in Prague, though its Shadowrun incarnation is a fictionalized, cyberpunk version.
• Feuerschwinge, the dragon central to Dragonfall's plot, is a real canonical dragon in Shadowrun lore, though her exact origins are shrouded in mystery.