At the first sign of trouble Nyli is off the cart and moving to cover (long grass or shrubs, opposite side to Chase). She signals to John and Dunkin that she'll take point. 'Being small has it's advantages' she thinks. She moves forward slowly and carefully looking for anything out of the ordinary and sniffing the air occasionally, 'if it's orcs or goblins I'll probably smell them first' she thinks with a grimace.

Stealth 27 

Perception 19

OOC: Nyli will move  up and right, so she's on the bank above John.

"T-trouble?" Doldek asks as he is shaken from his studies. He puts his book down and climbs over the provisions to join Vasha standing at the front of the wagon. Getting a glimpse of the slain horses, he gasps "Trouble indeed..."

Perception 2

OOC: Doldek will move one square to the right and half a square down.

Chase moves toward the horses while keeping his shield at the ready warhammer still in its holster.  ‘Let’s get this over with, the best way to spring a trap is to trigger it.’  He thinks as he goes straight toward the horses.

Move 25’.  
Action  Dodge.  
Perception to notice movement above 22.  
(Initiative 6).  

John. Nods. Keeping his weapon at the low ready but cranking it to the fire position as he moves forward.

"Hey y'all something ahead blocking the path. Going to see if there is a way to get around. Hold up a second."

John moves up the left side of the road keeping an eye out for an ambush.

Perception 23 since I'm scanning the woods I added my favorite terrain bonus 

Vasha will remain with the wagon unless he sees something threatening.

Perception 13

Quote from Backstabitha >>

This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.

Vasha will remain with the wagon unless he sees something threatening.

Perception 22

 Not sure why it got flagged. I did t even try to edit..? Anyways original roll was 8.

OOC: Rolls on here are best described as 'temperamental'.

I roll on the character sheet, it's a lot easier :)

Dunkin makes a run at the left embankment (Strength check = 15) with the intention of stealthily scanning the high ground and brush for potential enemies waiting in ambush (Wisdom/Perception check = 9).

OOC:

Not sure why I can't get D&D Beyond to show my rolls as checks versus custom or save. Corrected my perception check modifier manually here.

From the wagon, Doldek and Vasha see only the troubling, equine roadblock ahead, no evidence of an imminent threat.

Dunkin and Nyli climb the left embankment. Loose dirt breaks and slides under your feet, but with the help of rocks and roots, you hoist yourselves up with ease. Nyli disappears into the brush, totally unseen. From his elevated position, Dunkin scans the glen but likewise sees nothing.

John and Chase proceed down the dirt road. You notice that these horses belonged to Gundren and Sildar, but that is not all you notice. Brandishing a rusty scimitar, wearing blood-stained, ill-fitting, leather armor, a snarling* goblin leaps out from around the corner and lunges at the blessedly vigilant Chase.

Chase, you perceive the following:

*Anyone in the area who speaks Goblin would know:

OOC:

Everybody roll initiative (Chase should roll initiative again, but can keep his dodge action) and we will begin combat!

It looks like the forum roller is being a pain, so rolling on your character sheet to the game log is a good alternative. I don't mind it, especially because it means you can narrate the outcome of your rolls without manipulation warnings, bugs, or needing a second post. Just be sure to include all rolls you make to the game log in your posts.

The goblin(s) rolled 20 for stealth and 10 for initiative. We are using group initiative, so the mean of all your initiative rolls must be higher than 10 for you to act before them. Additionally, anyone whose active and passive perceptions were below 20 will be Surprised during their first turn of combat.
Map:

Nyli initiative 5

Chase initiative 8, not surprised.

Dunkin initiative 22 (surprised)

Doldek (surprised) initiative 19

"Attack? Was that a command? Are there others? By the Binder of the Astral Sea, what is happening?"

John: 16 ( Surprised)

"Attack? What wait this is an ambush!"

Vasha isn’t particularly quick to act, not having seen anything too concerning yet.

Initiative 10 (Surprised)

Then he hears “Attack!” in that awful goblin language that he forced to learn out of necessity for one of his prior protection gigs. Hearing that causes him to pick up his greatsword and take things more seriously.

Initiative:

Party Initiative: 13.34
Monster Initiative: 10

Party's Round 1:

You are going first, but it is only Chase who is not surprised and can act. Chase, your dodge action has ended; go ahead and take your turn.

The rest of you will no longer be surprised after this turn, and may begin taking reactions on the Monster turn, which is next.

Party:

Doldek – Surprised
Dunkin – Surprised
John – Surprised
Nyli – Surprised
Vasha – Surprised

Monsters:

Goblin 1 (Goblin) – 10/10 HP
Hidden monsters: (Chase, you know the locations of these, but I won't make an updated map unless you want me to)

Chase Kragen.  

   “Two to the right! Two to the left!” ‘And one right here.’  Grabs his war hammer and leaps at the goblin nearest him…

Free action communicate positions.  
Action ready weapon + attack, 16 to hit 7 bludgeoning.

end of turn.

Monsters Round 1:

Chase slams his war hammer into Goblin 1’s side; it yelps and stumbles to keep its balance. Chase and John, you see terror in its eyes; that blow would have killed a weaker goblin. It screams the same command again and again in Goblin, “Attack, cowards! Attack!” as it frantically looks left and right for its allies.

Perhaps later than Goblin 1 would have liked, two arrows come sailing from the right escarpment. Goblin 2’s arrow aims for Chase. Almost simultaneously, you all hear Goblin 3 cry out, “Aim for the driver, fool!” in Goblin as it shoots an arrow at Vasha. These two goblins hide in the trees.

On the left escarpment, Goblin 4 runs through the bushes at Dunkin waving a scimitar. It almost steps on Nyli’s foot as she sees it pass within inches of her, but she remains hidden.  If it makes its vicious attack on Dunkin, it would then disengage and run in the direction of the wagon. Goblin 5 shoots an arrow at John from somewhere in the foliage and hides.

Goblin 1, its nerve bolstered slightly by allies, slashes at Chase with its scimitar.

OOC:

Goblin 1 (Goblin): 3/10 HP --> Scimitar attack on Chase, 9 to hit for 7 slashing damage
Goblin 2 (Goblin): 7/7 HP --> Shortbow attack on Chase, 21 to hit for 4 piercing damage; Hide (Stealth: 12)
Goblin 3 (Goblin): 7/7 HP --> Shortbow attack w/ advantage on Vasha, 22 to hit for 4 piercing damage; Hide (Stealth: 14)
Goblin 4 (Goblin): 7/7 HP --> Scimitar attack w/ advantage on Dunkin (leaving Nyli's threatened area on the way), crit 24 to hit for 5 slashing damage; Disengage
Goblin 5 (Goblin): 10/10 HP --> Shortbow attack w/ advantage on John, 18 to hit for 4 piercing damage; Hide (Stealth: 14)

Y'all are up next in Round 2!

Map:

Goblins 2, 3, and 5 were visible in these locations until they hid. If your character's passive perception is lower than the stealth rolls for Goblin 2, 3, or 5, then your character does not know their exact location (even though the goblins have not actually moved from those spots). You may also use your action to make an active perception check if you wish.

Goblin 4's path is marked with red.

John gets hit in the shoulder by an arrow. 

Ouchhhh

John lines up a shot and shoots back goblin 5. It's too close to see if he scored a hit.

Attack 8 to hit for 11 damage.

John resets his next bolt

Nyli holds position, moving only enough to aim at Goblin 4.

Shortbow w/adv 20 Damage 8 +2  (sneak attack)

*I'm assuming advantage as Nyli hasn't been detected. If she doesn't have advantage to hit is 12