This chapter introduces us to Saga Anderson, who is Remedy’s first Black female protagonist. She is an FBI agent working alongside Alex Casey, and she’s investigating the strange cult murders in Bright Falls.
There isn’t much action in this chapter, as it mostly exists to teach you about Saga’s Mind Place, and to acquaint you with Bright Falls and Cauldron Lake. Nevertheless, there are a few collectibles worth grabbing straight away, and this guide will help you locate them all. This is part of an Alan Wake 2 hub that has all the information you need regarding the game.
Return 1: Invitation guide for Alan Wake 2
The chapter begins with Saga and Alex driving to Bright Falls. The first stop is Cauldron Lake, a wooded area with a few hidden buildings.
Cauldron Lake
At the Cauldron Lake parking lot, there is a board featuring a map. Grab it to help you navigate the forest. Following Alex, you’ll soon cross paths with a deputy standing near a fence. He’ll give you some of the details surrounding the case before letting you pass through a hole in the fence.
Now that you’ve been clued up by the deputy, you’ll gain access to Saga’s Mind Place. This is where you can view your current clues, construct profiles of people, and make attempts to solve the mysteries you encounter. The game will give you a tutorial of how it works, and how to attach new details to your case board.
Following Alex’s lead, you’ll find Nightingale’s body strapped to a table. Your job is to find all the clues and piece them together in your Mind Place. By speaking to the deputy and Alex, assessing all the items around the crime scene, placing clues on the case board, and using your profiling abilities, you’ll find all the information necessary. These are the clues you need on your board by the end of your investigation:
- Chest ripped open
- Bruises, defensive wounds on victim
- Bloating of joints indicates long-term water exposure
- Smudged text under victim’s skin
- Illegible words on heart
- Major chest trauma
- Heart found near victim’s body
- Cargo straps used to restrain victim
- Victim is Robert Nightingale
- Nightingale went off the deep end. FBI fired him.
- Heavy blood splatter on the table
- Multiple sets of footprints
- Tripod found near body
- Cooler and beer bottles left nearby
With this investigation done, Alex will then lead the way to Cauldron Lake. You can follow him without detours, but I suggest making a few pitstops on the way to grab some collectibles. Go down the path with Alex, then take the first left and follow the path to an abandoned house. Inside, you’ll find a taxidermy deer, of which there are several to find throughout Saga’s story. It’s at the spot labeled 2 on the deer taxidermy map below.
Just outside the house, you’ll also find a stash. You’ll find the symbols you need to unlock it in this order:
- Bathroom
- Bedroom
- Fridge
Input these symbols into the lock and you’ll get your goodies. Head south from the house and you’ll find a lunch box containing manuscript fragments. It’s at the spot labeled 4 on the map below.
Head back to Alex and follow him until you can take your first right. This will take you to the Witch’s Hut. You’ll be able to save here later but for now, cross the bridge beside the Witch’s Hut and you’ll find some ammo and another lunch box at the spot labeled 2 on the map above.
With these collectibles out the way, you’re free to follow Alex to the Witch’s Ladle. Here, you’ll find a manuscript page titled “The Message”, and it seems to tell the story of the two FBI agents. It’s part of the story so you can’t miss it. There are also three clues you can add to your board:
- Nightingale came from Cauldron Lake
- Trail has gone cold
- Footprints emerging from under the rock
Follow Alex back to the crime scene and on your way back, near a boulder by the Witch’s Hut, you’ll find a manuscript page titled “Saga Anderson’s Deja Vu. Once you’ve returned to the crime scene, the deputy will give you a key that’ll let you take a shortcut back to the parking lot. On your way there, stop by the FBC station (marked 3 on the map above) and pick up another manuscript page titled “Saga Pursues Nightingale.”
You can now return to the car with Alex and return to Bright Falls.
Bright Falls
You don’t have too many objectives once you’re back in Bright Falls, but you’re advised to do some exploring to find all the available collectibles. Firstly, there is a stash if you walk to one of the cars parked outside the Elderwood Palace Lodge. It’s an easy one to crack, as you just have to press the buttons in the same sequence they light up in.
Next, enter the lodge, and on the wall to your immediate right, you’ll find a map of Bright Falls. Enter the room where you’ll find a man dancing, enter the next room, and in there, you’ll arrive at a wall with a deer head. It’s at the spot labeled 2 on the deer head taxidermy map above.
Alex wants to head to the diner, but before you do that, head up Coal Street and you’ll find one of Mayor Setter’s campaign ads. It’s at the spot labeled 2 on the map below. Once you’ve observed it, head back to Alex and walk to the diner. Before entering, go to the road opposite the diner to find yet another Mayor Setter campaign ad at the spot labeled 3 on the map below.
Finally, you can enter the diner. The main objective is to talk to a couple that witnessed some of the horror on the night of Nightingale’s death. Before speaking to them, head to the back of the diner, and in the first room to your right, you’ll find a deer head inside to stroke.
Speak to the couple eating pie. The lady is wearing a sleeveless yellow jacket. They’ll tell you a bit about what they saw, but they’ll be secretive about what they snatched for themselves. Head into your Mind Place, place all the clues you’ve collected so far, then profile the Bookers. You’ll discover they have something you need. Confront them about this, and they’ll give you a necklace featuring two overlapping triangles.
Before you leave the diner, Rose the waitress will speak to you and offer her condolences for the death of your daughter. It’s a strange moment because Saga doesn’t know Rose, and she believes her daughter Logan is fine.
The Morgue
For the final part of the chapter, follow Tim Breaker and Alex to the Sheriff’s Office. That’s where the morgue is located. Enter the station, and you’ll find a doorless room to your left. Enter it, as there’s a Koskela ad you’ll find there.
After watching it, you’re free to follow your colleagues to the morgue where Nightingale’s body is. Inspecting the body will reveal a manuscript inside, this one titled “Saga Fights Nightingale with Light.” It teaches her that the Taken can’t see her when she is shrouded in light.
It is at this point that Tim Breaker will strangely disappear and Nightingale will come to life, ready to murder anything in his path. Stand in the light and wait for the undead creep to pass you. Once he’s out of your path, make a run for it and retrieve the gun at the end of the corridor. A few shots in Nightingale’s head will do the trick.
Final Draft differences in Return 1: Invitation in Alan Wake 2
The “Saga Anderson’s Deja Vu” is a new manuscript. It describes her investigating Nightingale’s body, and how she feels a sense of deja vu despite never coming across a case like this, almost as if she’s remembering a past life. As the manuscript explains, she shakes the feeling off and continues attempting to solve the case
To make sense of this, you’ll have to play more chapters of Alan Wake 2.
