Curse of Powerless Prophecy: Can the cursed character initiate an ambush?

[Feuerrabe]

An Oracle cursed with "Powerless Prophecy" cannot take any actions during the surprise round. That makes sense if she's the one being ambushed but did notice the enemy - she can neither forewarn her companions nor do anything about it.

However, if it is the enemy who is not aware of the oracle's presence and she intends to ambush them, that leads to situation where she can't attack and there might be no combat, unless she makes the enemy aware of her presence first - she's laying in a hiding place, having a crossbow aimed at the enemy, but just can't pull the trigger.

So the question is: Does the Curse of Powerless Prophecy really prevent an oracle from attacking an enemy who is not aware of her presence?

[Saethori]

I've always been a little hazy on exactly when combat begins in a situation where only one person is being hostile.

The situation you describe sounds like it would fit the flavor, but note that if you would act in the surprise round but can't, you aren't staggered in the first actual round of combat. Maybe the oracle's hesitancy is their real surprise round that's what alerts the enemy?