Baecr is a Praetorian Guard, and comes from an Equestrian (semi-noble) background. Married with a young daughter, on the surface he has everything: wealth, family, and status. But is he happy? No way! Why? Because he has regrets from things he has done in his past.
Baecr suffers from a long-standing injury which both causes him continued discomfort and reminds him of something he would rather forget. Despite his duty to protect the Emperor, he is in fact a cynic, believing the world he habits is corrupt and self-serving. He has a logical mind, has no religion, and refuses to believe in typical Roman superstitions. Some describe him as unfeeling, condescending, arrogant, perhaps even nihilistic – his wife included. As a consequence of his beliefs and behaviours he unwittingly sets in motion an unhappy chain of events leading either to his doom or to spiritual absolution.
An important question is whether Baecr can change his mindset sufficiently enough to repair the damage he has caused, and by doing so prevent further harm coming to those he still loves. Ultimatley, his story is one of finding renewed meaning in life.