Bears and giants and hobgoblins, oh my

Why did it have to be spiders?
 
But first, orcs. I do love ridding the world of orcs. It was nice of that party to drop in on our surveillance site to help us keep up the training regimen. I feel I was deprived of a couple of kills by the elf, but it's tough to complain after needing to be patched up in the middle of the fight. Thanks, Baric.
 
Having learned from our recent mine experience that a lack of preparation and scouting can be painful (what is WITH this itch on my neck???) we opted to scope out Axeholm for a bit to figure out of we were walking into a trap. Aside from the occasional hobgoblin troop, it turned into a bit of a wildlife watching bore, but it confirmed that Axeholm was quiet and unoccupied. Mostly.
 
After a pathetic attempt to raise a portcullis (I mean, why did we bother to get past dwarven defenses??? Har!) we did find a way in via a chimney up on the hillside (we'll need to address that vulnerability when we restore this place). Picked up a nice shield from the first room we entered. Didn't do me a damned bit of good against the giant spiders that dropped on us in the defense room above the entry way. I have to say, it was good to have the crossbow Baric gave me or I would have been trying to kill the spiders with dirty looks.
 
Soon enough, it was over and none of us much worse for the wear. Looking forward to exploring this place!