Syd will look around the room for trapdoors, secret compartments, hidden nooks, dark crevices, false drawers, fake books that open walls, fake walls that open books, hidden stashes of candy,  hidden stashes of girlie magazines and animal tracks.  Also clues.

Investigation:
7

(Dyumi, I will try to put together something "accurately" depicting some of the notes in the text, but that is beyond my ability at the moment  ;-)

As Dyumi takes the book from Cerlinde, he carefully flips through the pages, skimming to gain some context.  It appears that while the tome was written by Mordenkainen, this particular copy had for some time been in the possession of another powerful wizard named Fistandia (no relation to Fistandantilus, Dragonlance fans) and the notes were written by her.  She has elaborated on several of the theories and spells put forth by Mordenkainen, combining her experiments in metamagic with powerful dimension-warping spells to create useful variations.  She seems to have spent the most time on applying permanency and other enhancements to the aforementioned Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion.  From what you can tell, Fistandia has created one of these permanent spaces to use as her personal residence, library, and study.

Ollezall quickly sifts through the piles of notes, trying to make sense of the chaotic writings and assemble a timeline.  The messages penned by Matreous paint a picture of someone growing increasingly excited by the possibilities that the book is revealing, and even moreso by what knowledge could be found in Fistandia's personal magnificent mansion.  While it is doubtful that Fistandia had any notion of Haven's existence, there are numerous magics described in the tome that could contribute to increasing the stability of, or even make permanent, portals to and from Haven.  As you reach the end of the sequence of notes, you find something akin to a diary entry.  Matreous has clearly struck upon something and is debating whether he should contact Cassandra immediately, or explore it on his own.  Prudence versus the glory of discovery?  He desperately wants to impress Cassandra, but is struggling to contain his impulsive curiosity.

Mohdrak, while discouraged, ponders how he can support the team.  His idea of looking for a diary and Ollezall's findings leads him to think to search in Matreous' personal effects hanging by the door.  Amongst a sheaf of papers, Mohdrak finds a brief note, "Cassandra, you will find the answer on 42!"  In addition to the note, you find a recipe for a Potion of Climbing.  Apparently, Matreous is an aspiring sport climber and is looking for a leg up on the competition.  For shame, Matreous!

Syd, you find on the desk a small bowl of hard candy next to a moderately trashy work of fiction involving a drow and a satyr.  The novel seems to be Matreous' own, not part of Drusilla's library.  Do with those as you will.

Cerlinde seems excited about the discovery-  “this could be the solution to our issues- and quite a repository of arcane knowledge, and who knows what else! But we should be careful..”

Syd will empty the bowl into one of his pockets, and stuff the novel into another, to be used to curry favor with Mohdrak in the future, or possibly as emergency TP. (SIde pockets of his pack, I'm pretty sure loincloths don't come with pockets.)

Quote from EtyenAndiros >>

Mohdrak, while discouraged, ponders how he can support the team.  His idea of looking for a diary and Ollezall's findings leads him to think to search in Matreous' personal effects hanging by the door.  Amongst a sheaf of papers, Mohdrak finds a brief note, "Cassandra, you will find the answer on 42!"  In addition to the note, you find a recipe for a Potion of Climbing.  Apparently, Matreous is an aspiring sport climber and is looking for a leg up on the competition.  For shame, Matreous!

A small smile crept onto Mohdrak's face. He took out a small notebook, black, nondescript and filled with scribbles and doodles, and quickly copied the recipe along with a mention of where he found it.

The note puzzled him. He knew some numbers held special meaning or were considered lucky, specifically 3, 7 and, yes, 42, but the sentence did not make much sense to him. Surely it should have been "You will find the answer on page 42", would it not? With nothing else to go on, Mohdrak walked back to whoever held the book.

'Try page 42.' The minotaur said. 'What's on there?'

“Page 42?  Ok.   Interesting number.  I read once that  scholars found that 42 is the ultimate answer to life, the universe and everything- but no one has ever figured out what that means”  Cerlinde says, and turns to that page.

Dyumi will impatiently  read page 42 aloud.

More out of boredom than anything, Syd will flip to page 42 of the drow/satyr saga.

(My apologies if the crew is getting impatient, I've been juggling my 5 year old and work during the day so my opportunities to post, and do anything productive, have been fewer than I'd prefer.)

Dyumi flips through the tome to page 42.  On that page you find the same dense amount of notes as on the other pages you've seen.  However, while examining the text closely, you find that there are a number of random characters in the Infernal script that are written backwards.  In the order that they occur on the page, you see the following backwards letters:

R  -  E  -  T  -  P  -  E  -  C  -  S

Syd, please feel free to let the group know what you've found on page 42 of your newly acquired book.  ;-)

(Respect?)

SCEPTER

"...The dark elf felt the heat of his smoldering gaze as he stared at her comely figure.  His animal magnetism called out to her, beckoned her. 'But no,' she thought, 'I can't, for it would mean betraying my family, and my vows as a priestess.'  And yet, how could she resist that curly beard, those stubby horns, those masculine hooves, and most of all, those eyes.....?"

-p. 42, Forbidden Liasons volume III: Fifty Shades of Goat

While both contestants in the inaugural anagram challenge came up with valid responses, only one is the key word with the power to ... do something.  And that person is our stooped old druid, Dyumi!  Does anyone dare speak it aloud?  Or is the party too transfixed by the will she, won't she tale of a forbidden romance from the other book in the room?  Syd proved he's clearly not "illegitimate" with that fine work!

(I hope we didn't miss too much backstory in volumes I and II to appreciate the depth of these two characters!  Excellent work.)

Ollezall will share with the group his gleaning " from what I am reading, Cassandra's apprentice was on to some evidence to that there exists magic which can stabilise the portals around Haven.  I think he got ahead of himself, flew hazard to safety and um; leaped before looking. It doesn't appear he was coerced or forced through the portal. He certainly didn't check in with Cassandra when he should have. We should assume he is in reasonable condition, at least when he initially went through." 

Cerlinde says “I agree, I think we should go check out the magic within the book- this encoded word may do it?  Are we ready to try?”

Syd tosses the book back into his pack.  "Ready, boss.  Say the word!"

(So, are you all waiting for me with a silent assumption that somebody went ahead and said 'SCEPTER' or are you just letting the tension build?  Again, new DM for PbP, so I don't want to make too many assumptions on the party's behalf, but if you're waiting for me, please let me know!)

(Hah!  Actually I’m traveling for a friends wedding so just busy!)

Cerlinde, upon assessing that everyone is ready, casts “mage armor” on herself and then, turning to the open page 42, says “I sure hope there aren’t any kobolds .. Scepter”

Syd looks over Cerlinde's shoulder at the letters she has copied down and is rearranging.  She has circled one anagram, and asks if the rest of the party is ready.
Syd says, "Is that the word? Scepter?"

As Cerlinde and Syd say the word "scepter" nearly simultaneously they look at each other in surprise as a pair of shimmering, translucent doors appear in the middle of the room over the spot where the scorch marks lay.  The doors, appearing to be made of ironbound oak, slowly swing open.  The effect is strange, as the perspective of the doors and the resultant opening is the same for each individual, such that all members of the party see the same thing, regardless of where they are in the room.

Through the open doors, there is what appears to be a grand foyer, with an arched ceiling, stone block walls, and hardwood floors.  Once the doors have fully opened, the portal seems to stabilize.  However, Ollezall and Mohdrak quickly notice that the portal seems to be growing slowly more translucent as each moment passes.