A named threat of Scarlet Cave, encountered rarely and never in numbers - real Dungeons & Dragons statistics, no auto-computed shortcuts.
Layered on top of the module's own combat AI, which still picks targets and positioning. The fight below moves through real hit-point-gated phases; every save DC and attack bonus computes from the stat block above at runtime.
Fights straightforwardly as a real Ranger 4 / ShadowbaneInquisitor 5, testing the party's own line before pressing further.
Presses the advantage harder, trading caution for tempo.
Commits everything left rather than falling with anything held in reserve.
CR 9 is set against Scarlet Cave's own real ambient ceiling, not auto-computed from level alone - a genuine Ranger 4 / ShadowbaneInquisitor 5 build at 9 total levels.
Hit points (88) follow this project's own average-hit-dice convention, and every save/attack bonus derives from the ability scores above at runtime - nothing here is hardcoded past the phase gates themselves.
Boss-flagged (bypasses the drop-rate roll, two loot-generation passes) and gated to a single spawn - only one Kaedryn Blacktide is ever up in Scarlet Cave at a time.