<em>OOC: There's only been one post after my own last post, but I thin keveryone is just waiting the game to move on, so I'm moving ahead then.</em><br/><hr/><br/>The riders and the people walking ahead to the forest came under cover of the branches soon enough, making a path as they went ahead. A pair of soldiers at the front kept cutting down vegetation to make way ahead. The beach had ended far too quickly, with wood and stone pushing out to the waterline at both directions, more beach showing up later on, but they were divided into sections it seemed, so the only real way ahead was through the woods.<br/><br/>As the group was pushing ahead in the forest Horo was a bit ahead in the woods, near the blood trail left in the woods there. There was also the steps that seemed to lead back towards the direction of the rest of the group.<br/><br/>The crew was prepared and ready as it moved ahead, the heroes moving ahead in silence. Sachi, Jayne and Will near the front, with Sheva close up as well, and Horo somewhere ahead to scout. It seemed like the dark evening was starting fairly well, there was a bit of deep shadows all around, but no problems had raised their head just yet.<br/><br/><em>((OOC: I want a spot &amp; listen roll from everyone, matching DC 20 permits the group to act on the 'surprise' round. Sachi, does your bonus still apply to the group? If so, I believe it was +2 for the folks benefit. Follow by rolling initiative. Also, the following assumes you fail your listen &amp; spot, if you succeed, act freely on the surprise round too, and I'll check things after your rolls and actions. ))</em><br/><br/>Just after that thought occured to one of the soldiers he let out a yell as an arrow embedded itself into his arm, a mere fleshwound but looking painful still.<br/><br/>Group of six orcs rushed into formation in front of the group, with longspears held out, and behind them, six more orcs approached with longspears at the ready. Behind these, in the forest proper, the group could count a quick look of at least eight orcs holding bows, partly in cover behind trees, taking half cover whenever possible while taking aim at the group. Two arrows shattering in front of Jayne into the protective field of the magic. Two more arrows flew towards Sheva but fell short, hitting the ground between a pair of horses. One arrow closed in on Sachi, slashing past her, missing her. Last two arrows made their direction right at a female crew member atop a horse, a yelp sounding out as she fell from the saddle, an arrow seen sticking out of her throat as she fell, the other clicking against her armor and shattering, showing the purchase was worth its cost, but the damn orcs had some nasty aim or nasty luck.<br/><br/>"Load! Aim!" Someone was shouting loudly, as the group could now spot a woman atop a tall branch nearby, with a dark skin, crimson eyes, and white hair, and an outfit of darkened leather that had not made a sound before she shouted. In her hands she held a light crossbow, a bolt loaded but not yet fired. "First Squad, Advance, Second Squad, Advance!" The orcs obeyed, starting to move in with a marching pace.<br/><br/><em>In perfect order, perfect formation. 10 feet of sharp spears pointing at the group, and another row of speartips at 5 feet again, they were pushing towards the horses and blocking the path towards their archers, there was no open ground to ride over to the archers from there. The orcs were blocking the whole 30 feet wide forest path. They stand just 20 feet from closest adventurers, and 10 additional feet from Sheva. The archers in turn are divided among trees, but as far as 30 to 50 feet away for the front row (Jayne, Will, Sachi). </em>