Perception: 24

Fae perception: 21 

Elra looks like she's about to ask another question, but decides to save the power just in case something else happens. She joins the others as they leave, scanning the horizon with the others.

Perception: 18

Tarja's nose loses the trail, at least for now, at the water's edge.  The group looks around and some aren't quite sure where they will go from here, but it is Elra who notices something odd. 

On the point of land between the two merging rivers just upstream from the party a stout figure watches from amidst a thick stand of trees.  The dwarven looking figure stands motionless, peering out from under a heavy helm and pauldrons.  With a squint Elra realizes that it is a statue, a stone sentinel likely set here long ago from the looks of things.

Ethan, not having noticed anything himself and seeing Tarja has stopped at the river, starts looking for a way to safely cross the river.

Question for DM - how wide/deep/fast is the river here? Trying to decide if Tarja would try to wade/swim across and look for the trail on the other side, since she hasn't noticed the dwarf statue yet.Trying to get a sense of whether that's just something I could do, or would take a risky check, or impossible without more prep.

"They've got another prisoner," Elra speaks up, realizing she hadnt actually mentioned that part yet. She points out the stone dwarf. "That might be a good sign right?"

The group notices that just downstream of where they are the river is wider, slower and more shallow than upstream where the two smaller flows meet.  It would be easy to cross there other than wet boots, or at least cold feet.  To cross one of the two merging rivers upstream to get to the point where the statue stands would take a bit more effort as the area is deeper and rockier.

(DC10 Athletics/Acrobatics to hop rocks, DC10 Athletics to swim, etc. to inspect the dwarf statue.  No check to cross downstream.)

Seeing the group come to a halt at the river, the barbarian moves up from his rearguard position.  Once there he immediately zeroes in on the stone dwarf.  

'A sentinel at the confluence.  That is an ominous sight indeed.  I'm not sure if this is an omen for good or for ill, but I think it's worth a closer look.  Would anyone care to help me examine this guardian?'

As he waits for a response, the tiefling strips off his carefully crafted armor and his newly fashioned holster for the magical chain they found in the darkness below.  He wouldn't want to risk them getting unduly wet as he made his way across the river.  His ceremonial blade and shield stayed on, they were as much a part of his body as were his flightless wings.  He did take off the belt on which the blade hung, wrapping the leather carefully around the sheath and holding the blade in his hand in an attempt to keep it out of the water.

Athletics (taking it with disadvantage to keep his blade dry) 16

Ethan is looking at the downstream ford when he hears Zeke splash into the water.

"Oh, Zeke! There is a place we can easily cross, just downstream a little ways."

Ethan points out the downstream ford to the others before starting to move himself.

Ethan heads to the ford and crosses the river, before heading back to meet up with Zeke on the far bank.

As Ethan heads to the ford Quinn detaches from his back, flying up just above and keeping watch over his master as he crosses the river.

Elra will also head for the ford and cross there with Ethan, having sent Vincent back to his pocket dimension for the time being. "We might be close," she says, keeping an eye on the stature like it might come to life.

Fae caught herself staring. She had been preparing to psych herself up to attempt hopping the rocks to follow Zeke across the river when Ethan would speak up. They could cross easier downstream. "Oh... I didn't even see that either..." She'd say a bit sheepishly, feeling her face redden a little. The wizard may be a little book smart, but clearly wasn't the most perceptive all the time. She'd trot over after Elra and Ethan, doing her best to catch up from falling behind. There may have been a little stumble or two, but she'd make it unscathed. Catching her breath, Fae would pull up to peek at the statue, journal and quill in hand. Rising up on the tips of her toes, the scholar was happy to participate in the inspection.

Tarja, still in wolf form, scampers around to try to find a trail. She'll first cross the stream on the other side, where it's shallower - perhaps they took this way across? (perception, no advantage, 11 ?)

If there's no trail to be found there, then perhaps the strange statue would be worth investigating closer, now that the others have pointed it out. Maybe it marks an entrance or a trail. Perhaps even something from one of her ancestors in this area...)

(If she finds no signs of their quarry on the other side of the easy ford, then double back and head to the dwarf statue: acrobatics 10 to hop across.)

While some of the others cross to the far side of the wider river downstream, Tarja and Zeke each successfully reach the statue on the central point between rivers upstream.  A weathered five foot stone statue stands as a sentinel watching the river confluence from atop a three foot rectangular pedestal.  It has become almost completely hidden as the conifers around it have grown tall and thick over however many years it has been here.

 Fae tries to catch up to Tarja by rock hopping but slips and splashes into the water.

27  (on 60 or higher, Fae takes 5 bludgeoning damage as she hits other rocks while falling, and another 1 if she is unlucky enough for it to be 80 or higher.)

Fae can try to swim to safety with a DC10 Athletics check, or float downstream to where the newly merged river widens and slows.  Floating downstream risks another 3 damage on an 80 or higher here: 3

Whether she is able to swim to Zeke and Tarja's location or floats downstream to safety near the rest of the group, Fae is fortunate not to strike and rocks while falling or being swept away by the initial rush of water.

Almost forgot an important part! ...

Tarja's nose does not find any scent left from Arvel or the imposter after reaching the initial river's edge, but she does smell something she has smelled before in the region, giant spiders.  The smell litters the area on both sides of the river, with no specific trail to be found.

Ethan realises his mistake about halfway back up the far bank, finally taking a closer look and noticing the statue that Zeke and Tarja have made their way too.

When Fae tries to cross to the crux of the Y, Ethan tries to follow her.

As Fae slips and plunges into the water, Ethan tries to grab a hold of her before she can float way downstream.

Elra follows Ethan and tries to help