Sylvia jumped as Rayne whispered directly into her ear. "Tap me on the shoulder or something next time! Anyways, the lights would give us away long before they revealed anything," she shook her head.<br/><br/>The ground became hillier as they pressed on, the White Stag's trail leading them up and down the slopes. On the crest of a hill, Rayne could see the dark masses of mountains ahead, not too far away now. "We're heading north," Sylvia pointed out the north star ahead of them, "the foothills are orc territory, but the mountains are home to dwarven holds and we'll be safer once we reach them."<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Detection!</div><div class="spoiler_body">Perception DC 12 passed: Hill Giant detected!<br/>Perception DC 17 passed: Orc Barbarians detected!<br/>Stealth DC 17 passed: Hill Giant is unaware of your presence!<br/>Stealth DC 16 passed: Orc Barbarians are unaware of your presence!<br/></div></div><br/><br/>Lost in sentimental thoughts about the feasibility of their planned Wish, Rayne almost missed the armored, axe-wielding orcs lying in ambush. A lucky ray of moonlight shining through the forest canopy bounced off one of the orcs' breastplates and reached her eye, her low-light vision picking up on it and alerting her as though it was as bright as the sun gleaming off polished armor. Once she knew what she was looking for, it was easy to spot the whole ambushing party - four orcs backed up by a hill giant, or was it a hill giant backed up by four orcs?<br/><br/>They had done a decent job - for orcs and giants - of using undergrowth and fallen branches to hide themselves, but the half-elf's senses had prevailed. Even better, they didn't seem to have noticed the presence of either Rayne or Sylvia. A tap on the shoulder later and Sylvia lifted her attention from the White Stag's trail and saw them too.<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Rayne and Sylvia can retreat without breaking stealth. Any other action and they'll enter combat, receiving a surprise round, and on an initiative check of 11 or better, act first during the first round.