Czech Republic, Slovakia & Hungary

The Czech Republic is probably the most Western country in the region. Before WWII it resisted the plague of fascism and authoritarianism that rolled through Europe, and Czechs and Slovaks split peacefully, mostly over the presence of a hyphen in the name of the country. That doesn’t mean that the country is a paradise; the pollution is quite dangerous and the crime rate is growing. Slovakia is still underdeveloped, and often ignored by villains. In Hungary, on the other hand, nationalism seems to be on the rise.

PRAGUE

The picturesque, medieval city of Prague is well known to tourists and all sorts of travelers, including heroes and villains. Prague’s importance as a center of diplomacy and espionage sometimes can overshadow the fact that it’s a city with two million residents... with an occasionally bloody history. It has been a major seat of power, stage for rebellions and occupations, and now it’s returned as a major European city.
Prague was once a seat of power for Rudolf the Second, a Holy Roman Emperor crazy about alchemy, astrology, and necromancy (all considered fairly scientific at the time). Rudolf invited various magicians and wizards to his court—two of whom were the infamous John Dee and Edward Kelly, who reportedly communicated with angels and seraphs, and were able to lock their essences in crystals and gems. Sadly, they produced neither Philosopher’s Stone nor Elixir of Life, and so Rudolf was forced to break Kelly’s legs and order Dee killed.
Rudolf also employed other practitioners of magic. Most failed projects ended up in his extensive collection. Today a strange reminder of the emperor’s obsession with the supernatural is the Golden Lane in Prague, which houses an alchemist’s lab, supposedly recreated using the notes in Dee’s diaries.
One of the mystics that owed their knowledge to Emperor Rudolf’s curiosity was Honza (John) Krisov, professor at the University of Prague, student of the occult, one of the last members of ancient Order of Light, and a minor talent in his own right. When the Nazis rose to power in Germany, Honza was visiting his close friend Helmut Shaal to inquire about the unusual talents of his children. And on the fateful Kristallnacht, the Nazi’s attacked him and his family. Their powers weren’t enough to protect them, but he gave his life in a ritual that awakened the powers of the Light-bearers within his family. Krisov still exists… in a way. Sophie sometimes claimed that she heard his wise advice. In fact, Krisov was transformed into some kind of “light ghost.” He still exists, but he needs a strong purpose to latch onto in order to grant his host powers.
Prague avoided extensive damage in World War II. During the Cold War it experienced Russian and Polish tanks rolling into the city to stop it from deviating from Moscow’s doctrine of “socialism with a human face.” The WWII veteran and Czech hero Pérák (The Springman) came out of semiretirement to play cruel tricks on the invaders and inspire the populace. Despite his success, he was eventually killed in the middle of Prague’s Wenceslas Square in 1968.