Perception: 18

After Throm's burning of the webs overhead, Lok is confident there is nothing currently near the ceiling. However when Throm moves to the right to find a torch sconce, he sees a huge spider perched motionless on the webs above the kegs near the wall. Quin can sense through the thick webs another huge spider similarly lurking near the ceiling in the corner to the left. Hatch doesn't detect anything directly ahead, although as more of the webs burn he senses some vague movement deeper within to the right and left...

Perception: 13

(I'm assuming there's nothing behind us yet anyway?)

(Yes, just the stairs for now)

 "We definitely got some movement here," Hatch said. "Y'all see anything? We should attack any near the entrance first."

Surprise round? Initiative?

"There's a big spider to my left here, right above these kegs."  Quin whispered and stood still where she was, keeping an eye on the enormous spider she could see. When they had said there was a spider infestation, she was thinking of garden spiders. She had never seen spiders this big before. She was ready to fight. But she also thought it would be a good idea to try to suss out how many they were facing. 

"Okay, I sense some movement from my left and right, deeper within, so anyone with range attacks take my position so they don't converge on us. Us melee fighters will deal with the spider Quin has spotted along with any others you guys see close by," Hatch said, hoping that was the correct move.

He would then move to where Quin was.

Quote from CalvinHahnII >>

Surprise round? Initiative?

Both sides are aware of each other, so no surprise. Spiders have also not initiated combat, so no initiative roll yet ... unless you want to attack.

Quin whispers, "Does anybody have a way of communicating with these guys? They haven't tried to attack us. The easiest thing to do here would be get them to move on. Unfortunately I don't have any way to talk to them. Hopefully somebody else does. Otherwise, I'm afraid we're going to have to attack. But I just thought of something. Why are they here? What are they feeding on?"

"Anyone know how to talk to animals? Otherwise, try common I guess?"

Hatch tries speaking to the spider. "Can you understand us?"

Throm will say in Giant to the spider in front of him, “My, aren’t you a beauty?”

Quin is hoping the spiders can communicate with Throm. She waits but is ready to take action if any of the spiders threatens. 

Lok shrugs

"On one of my missions I picked up a bit of infernal, but I dont think ive ever seen anyone speak to spiders."

The barbarian grips his dagger tighter, preparing if a fight breaks out.
 

Quin turns and whispers to Lia, "Do you know how to speak to animals? They aren't attacking us but they have clearly been feeding on something to have made these webs. Maybe we can figure out why they're here and either remove what they're feeding off of or talk them into leaving. Otherwise, I'm afraid we're going to have to kill them."  

Quin is considering cantrips she can use to kill the spider closest to her but for some reason feels reluctant to kill the spiders without understanding why they are there in the first place.

"No, sorry. I've been told I'm very good with animals though? Not that they really count, being arachnids and all..." Lia whispers back, getting lost in thought. She lowers her sword in an attempt to show she isn't a threat. 

"I've taught myself a bits of a few languages in my studies but... they're mostly quite exotic. I doubt they'd be if any help to us right now." she mumbles, almost regretfully.

[Lia is proficient in animal handling, and speaks broken Abyssal, Celestial, Primordial and Elvish (the number due to a combination of race and background)]

There don't appear to be any sign of vermin or other prey for the spiders, but that could be because they've already eaten everything.

The movement from the sides draws closer, and is now enough for all others to notice. All of a sudden, from either side of the central wine racks, two ettercaps appear, grotesque humanoid creatures crawling rapidly along the webs like spiders. With a few clicks of their mandibles, the ettercaps communicate with the two giant spiders, which where apparently waiting for their signal to attack...

Now you can roll for initiative.   :)   (Someone said they wanted a fight, didn't they?)

Ettercaps: 22
Giant Spiders: 15

I have Quin on the left, Throm on the right, and Hatch/Lok/Lia in the center (Thoradin, if you can hear me, you can still join in...) If you roll higher than 22, then you can act before the ettercaps.

One ettercap will use its Web ability against Quin (Attack roll: 16) and the other against Throm (Attack roll: 20). I don't know your AC, so let me know if it hits or not. 

Initiative: 23

My mind wandered at the most inopportune time, it seems. Throm is momentarily mad at himself and is working himself into a RAGE! (Assuming he survives to his turn in the initiative)

https://ddb.ac/characters/26617134/PJfMhp

(Originally I didn't expect character sheets, but since we have a stable core group now, if you have a character sheet go ahead and join this campaign link)