Auric:

Wandering around himself, Auric looks for anything useful in the desolation, especially among buildings that used to have an arcane purpose.  He is most interested in books, scrolls, or anything that pings as magic.  Failing that, he will settle in for the night wherever the others would like.

With the assailant subdued, Hansel leaves his small kit for the time being, and wanders over to the ruins of what appears to have been a church in the southwest corner, to have a look inside...

(How about, anyone sifting through the rubble give me an investigation or perception check and roll 1d100)

Auric Investigation:  12

d100:  39

Perception: 26

18

Perception: 8

D100:  71

Perception: 4

D100: 76

Auric sets out with purpose, searching amongst the ruins for books, scrolls and the like. Naturally his investigation would take him into the library. Searching amongst the collapsed debris he steps over crumbled stone, splintered and scorched wood making his way to the back of what remains of the building. Weaving through piles of destroyed scrolls and burned books, he finds himself in a study. There was a lone desk with some scattered stationery where he finds two books, and a candle.

Auric

Hansel sets out for the church. The dilapidated facility loomed over him the closer her got and was almost overwhelming in size for him to take on alone. However, the cleric still tries. Braving a boisterous entrance, he arrives inside and finishes pretty quickly. There was a twinkle in Hansel's eye. Golden. He bends over to discover a bootlace entwined with gold thread. Next to that was a necklace with tiny snail shells, painted gold. Then he realizes there's something white stuck to his boot. How long has that been there? It's definitely dirty, but when he decides to pick it up to look at it.

Hansel

Mr. Dark slinks about. He uses the fog of the river to his advantage as he stealths about during his search. Of course he could search all the buildings along the bank, or he could work smarter and not harder. Noticing that the river runs by multiple ruins he walks downstream to the ship yard. Surely some things of value would wash up, or have been unloaded here. When the light would catch the right way he'd see something at the waters edge. Mr Dark would first discover an unusually sharp spoon. Then he'd discover a full scattered set of exquisitely crafted dice, carved from the tusks of a mammoth. Dwarvish runes replace the typical pips on the sides, and glow a faint blue. However, amongst that search he'd also find a stone unlike no other. It was flat and wasn't shiny at all. The colour of it is so matte, so dark, it's almost void of colour.

As for Xenophon, that dragonborn finds himself amongst the forge. A warrior like him would absolutely figure there could be some metal of value remaining there. Kicking, lifting and pushing aside debris to gain access, he finally gains access. First he'd look for remnants of the workbench. Xeno would find a tiny bubble level. Next to the workstation he'd notice a knocked over armour stand. On the floor next to it he'd find some pieces. There was a tin pot that would be just the right size for him to wear as a helmet and a shield with it's front shaped in the likeness of a face.

Auric:

Once they are ready to settle in for the night, Auric will cast Detect Magic and then Identify as needed to determine the properties of anything that detects as magic.  He then spends the early part of his watch perusing the two books he found...

Excitedly, Hansel turns the paper over to see if there is any indication where the event is to take place...

Auric
The first book surprisingly didn't take long for Auric to figure out what it was. What took him a while was to realize that it's pages made his fingers smell funny. Book one was of Flumph grammar.

The second book was more elegant. It felt light, almost like a cloud, and it's pages turned like a dream. There are a handful of pages written in almost perfect handwritten script as if with a delicate and practiced hand. Short stories perhaps? He'd notice it gave off a gentle hum of magic, enchantment perhaps, but nothing malicious.

Hansel
There was a gouged scratch from being dragged under his boot.

P-------- ---- --een.

Was all Hansel could make out.

P-------- ---- --een.

Spelling wasn't Hansel's strong point, and he exerted significant mental power for the next fifteen minutes struggling to guess the meaning of the letters. Purpleish Blue Green? Pachyderm Need Preen? PinkFloyd With Queen? No, none of these made any sense. But wait, he was looking for a place name! Perhaps one of the nearby nobles' castles or lords' estates? Was there any city nearby that started with P? Finally it sunk in. Phandalin! Phandalin ---- --een? Phandalin Town Green!! A ball in their small backwater town? Could it be possible!? Oh, Sune be praised! Hansel's heart starts to race, his hand trembles, and he stumbles from the ruined church to share the wonderful news with his companions...

Mr. Dark gets back to the group, settling in to the camp and finding a good place to rest that kept his back to a wall. He shows Auric the dice and the strange black rock, to see if he can make any sense of them.  When Hansel comes in sharing his wonderful news of a party of some type, Mr.Black scratches the back of his neck, more than a little confused. "How do we think a current invitation to a ball appeared in this ruin? Are you sure the date is correct? If it is.....I don't imagine we are interested in....." his gaze wanders to Hansel's absolutely glowing face...and he rolls his eyes a bit, "....or...of course we would be interested in attending. Well, lets get this mission done right quick then. Early to bed so we can get moving first thing tomorrow." 

Auric:

Excitedly, Auric points to the book of Flumph Grammar and says, “This tome contains a language quite esoteric—our intrepid group shouldst endeavor to master this tongue to facilitate communication most private even whilst amongst a throng.”

Stacey hovers around while the group gathers and shares their finds. Some were exited, some were indifferent. As their eyes pass over each item Auric spent time with, she’d open their mouth on a few items as if to say something but then she’d close it again like the thought just slipped away.

(I noted the items I’ve yet to describe, but apparently the doc didn’t sync on the cloud… so I don’t have access at this time. Please excuse the delay…)

The red head couldn’t help but smile at Hansel’s and Auric’s enthusiasm over particular finds. “Maybe someone dropped it? Or he dragged it here under his boot from the trail? Maybe a bird was carryin’ it?” Stacey spitballs some spontaneous thoughts to Mr. Dark before winking. “Whatcha gunna wear Hansel? Are we all gunna haveta match?” She prompts. “How long would that take teh master Auric?” 

While she enjoyed hearing the talk of other around them, Stacey can’t help but reach for the other book Auric had found. Thumbing through the pages, she’d simply share a thought that felt sure for once. “This book records dreams.”

Brown eyes look to Mr. Dark when he encourages them to bed like teens at a slumber party. “Settin’ a watch tonight?”

Mr.Dark looks to Auric's excitement about the book.  He scratches his head, but says nothing. Mr. Dark nods to Stacey, "Yes, I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation. A messenger bird most likely....or a wayward delivery boy who is bad at his job...or dead."  He shrugs the question away.  Then meets Stacey's eyes, "Yes,  a watch. For sure. I'll take the first one...it'll be interested to see what the dream book shows you.....I can never remember my dreams."

Auric:

”Mastering but a few select phrases could perchance grant thee capability to subtly communicate messages most urgent at need,” responds Auric, “requiring only a smattering of lessons and the requisite repetition.”

"Put me down fer final watch." Stacey says as their eyes drift back to the book. It would be interesting to see what it could tell them... A hand moves up to trace the scar along their head.

When Auric continues to inspect the other items he notices that the dice are exquisitely crafted and carved from the tusks of a mammoth. Dwarvish runes replace the typical pips on the sides, and glow a faint blue. The flat, gray-and-black river stone is inscribed with an unknown arcane symbol and feels cool to the touch. It gave off almost a sense of luck but would require attunement to know for sure. The tin pot Xeno found was the perfect size for someone to use as a helmet. However, after further inspection Auric would come to realize the bubble level found was actually calibrated incorrectly. Then when inspecting the face shield he'd notice While bearing the shield, her could alter the face’s expression.

Item summary

Hansel offers to take one of the in-between shifts. It doesn't hurt to get up in the middle of the night anyway, for a bit of extra preening.

Auric:

Auric volunteers to take the first watch.  He casts Detect Magic and separates out all the items that indicate as such, then gets out his pearl and starts doing an Identify ritual for each of them.