Swamped

It's not oak.

You're not an expert on trees by any measure, but you've carried around an oak staff long enough to recognize some key details of it. Especially the ether pattern it gives off.

This one is giving off an especially rare ether pattern for wood - which is to say, none at all. And looking more closely, it's not even brown. It's just painted that way.

There's a tiny spot where the paint has given way and is showing purple.

But it's definitely wooden. Where in the world could purple wood grow?

You don't think this crest is going to tell you any more. You put it back on the table.

Almost immediately, you feel a strange pounding sensation in your head. You pick the crest back up, and it stops.

Seems someone intends you to keep it. At least you have some divine guidance, you suppose. Though you aren't entirely sure if this is an improvement over having none at all.

Regardless, you think you're done here. You put the crest in your pocket. Your next move is probably to pay a visit to Mortimer or Mona Flame.