Lesser Dog

**Lesser Dog** is an unique monster and enemy in ***Section 3 - Hell's Forest.*** It is found hiding in its sentry station after the ice XOXO puzzle. In order to fight it, Kris has to interact with the sentry station and checking inside.

During the Obliteration Route, when attempting to check inside Lesser Dog's sentry station to fight it, Susie will drag Kris out of the room, as well as tempting to convince them to not fight it when trying to go back in; she will eventually let Kris go back out of exhaustion, accompanying they but refusing to attack Lesser Dog. Noelle will not enter the room with them.

Uniquely for a Section 3 enemy, Lesser Dog doesn't start in the *Hostile* state, instead it will be afraid hiding behind its shield, increasing its resistance against attacks; the only way to get rid of it is by winning Lesser Dog's trust, or using brute force to break it.

## Attacks

* A small dog will appear at the bottom of the Bullet Board, running scared against the wall upon seeing the SOUL; it will then start bouncing all around the borders, increasing in speed as the attack progresses.
* Several spears will come from left or right, moving across the Bullet Board; they can be either cyan or orange, requiring to stand still and moving respectively, or white, moving up and down as well.

## Mercy

Lesser Dog can be spared after filling it's MERCY bar to 100% full by using ACTs in a specific order, or using Sleep Mist when it's TIRED, which can be done by either using Noelle's N-Action for three times, or breaking its shield when reaching 25% HP.

The ACTs effects and their order of execution are:

* **Ignore** will increase Lesser Dog's MERCY by 10% and allows the Comfort ACT to be effective. It requires Susie's turn.
* **Comfort** will increase Lesser Dog's MERCY by 15% and allows Beckon ACT to be effective; it will also visibly stop Lesser Dog's shaking. It requires Noelle's turn.
	+ During the Obliteration Route, as Noelle isn't in the party during the fight, Comfort will be less effective, increasing its MERCY by 5% the first time and only slightly reducing Lesser's Dog shaking, and by 10% the second time, stopping Lesser Dog's shaking.
* **Beckon** will increase Lesser Dog's MERCY by 15% the first time, then by 25% the second. It will also gradually lower Lesser Dog's shield, first by slightly peeking its head out, then by putting it to its side, as well as slightly speeding up "Dog Song".
* **Play** will increase Lesser Dog's MERCY by 35%, allowing to reach 100%. Lesser Dog will also stop attacking.

Note that all ACTs above will lose their effect if Lesser Dog's shield is broken.

**S-Action** and **N-Action** are the only ACTs that are not directly used to increase Lesser Dog's MERCY: S-Action will reduce the damage of Lesser Dog's next attack, while N-Action will gradually make it sleepier, until it is TIRED after the third use.

## Strategy

For mercy, either the above order of ACTs must be used to spare Lesser Dog, or N-Action three times to pacifying it while its TIRED; if Noelle is in the party, it becomes the only way to spare Lesser Dog if it's shield has been broken.

For fight, Lesser Dog's shield will absorb most of the damage done to it, only breaking when reaching 25% of HP remaining. The shield's damage resistance can be reduced by using the Beckon ACT.

Alternatively, by filling Lesser Dog's MERCY bar, it will become vulnerable to a betrayal kill, killing it instantly no matter the damage.

## Flavor Text

* *You approach the Lesser Dog.* **[Encounter]**
* *This soft, loving dog has seen better days.* **[Check]**
* *Lesser Dog is afraid of your weapons.* **[Neutral]**
* *Lesser Dog is hiding behind its shield.* **[Neutral]**
* *Smells like dog chow.* **[Neutral]**
* *Lesser Dog is about to faint* **[Neutral, after breaking its shield]**
* *Lesser Dog thinks its about to die.* **[Neutral, after breaking its shield]**
* *Lesser Dog is now vulnerable.* **[Neutral, after putting its shield to the side]**
* *Lesser Dog finally feels safe.* **[100% Mercy]**
* *You try to pet the Lesser Dogo, but it quickly backs away from you.* **[Pet, afraid]**
* *You pet the Lesser Dog. It seems to really like it.* **[Pet, not afraid]**
* *You called for the Lesser Dog. But it doesn't budge.* **[Beckon after breaking its shield or before Comfort, afraid]**
* *You called for the Lesser Dog. It lowers its shield, but itsn't fully out yet.* **[1st Beckon After Comfort]**
* *You called for the Lesser Dog. It puts its shield to its side, ready for you.* **[2nd Beckon]**
* *You called for the Lesser Dog. But nothing happened.* **[+3rd Beckon]**
* *You tried to get the Lesser Dog to play with you, but it doesn't trust you yet.* **[Play, afraid]**
* *You proposed a game of catch with snowballs.* **[Play after 2nd Beckon]** *(+35% Mercy)*
	+ *Everyone played with the Lesser Dog*
	+ *Lesser Dog feels safe in your presence.*
* *The Lesser Dog is tuckered out.* **[2nd Play]**
* *You try to comfort the Lesser Dog, but it keeps shaking.* **[Comfort before Ignore]**
* *You tell Noelle to comfort the Lesser Dog.* **[1st Comfort after Ignore, afraid]**
	+ *Lesser Dog stops shaking.*
* *You try to comfort the Lesser Dog.* **[Obliteration Route, Kris only]**
	+ *Lesser Dog seems to be shaking less.* **[1st time]**
	+ *Lesser Dog stops shaking.* **[2nd time]**
* *You try to confort the Lesser Dog, but nothing happens.* **[2nd Comfort after Ignore, afraid]**
* *You stepped away from Lesser Dog and dragged Susie with you.* **[Ignore]**
	+ *Lesser Dog seems to be less intimidated.* **[1st Ignore]**
	+ *But nothing happened.* **[2nd Ignore]**
* *Susie stands tall over Lesser Dog.* **[S-Action]**
	+ *Lesser Dog's next attack became weaker!*
	+ Lesser Dog feels intimidated again!!! **[After Ignore but before Comfort]**
* *Noelle hums a soothing tune. Lesser Dog finds this to be oddly soothing.* **[N-Action]**
* *Noelle hums a soothing tune. Lesser Dog seems to becoming sleepier.* **[2nd N-Action]**
* *Noelle hums a soothing tune. Lesser Dog has become TIRED!* **[3rd N-Action]**
* *Noelle hums a soothing tune. But Lesser Dog is already tired!* **[4rd+ N-Action]**

## Quotes

* Noelle: (I wonder if he's too intimidated by Susie...) **[Comfort before Ignore, afraid]**
* Noelle: There there...We aren't going to hurt you. **[Comfort after Ignore]**
* Susie: Kris, we're NOT gonna be able to calm it down like this. **[Ignore after breaking its shield]**
	+ Maybe you can make Noelle make it fall asleep.
* Noelle: Kris I don't think we can comfort it like this. **[Comfort at 10% MERCY after breaking its shield]**
	+ I think I can make it fall asleep with Sleep Mist
* Susie: Kris, you're stupid. **[Play at 65% MERCY after breaking its shield]**
	+ Noelle: I think I can make it fall asleep with Sleep Mist.
* Noelle: (Maybe...wait to do that later, Susie.) **[S-Action after Ignore but before Comfort]**

### [After battle]

#### (Normal Route)

##### (Normal Kill)

* Susie: Kris, we REALLY didn't need to kill that dog.
* Susie: Honestly kind of horrific you chose yo do that.

##### (Betrayal Kill)

* Susie: The hell is wrong with you??!
* Susie: Can you PLEASE not do shit like that???

##### (Either way)

* Susie: Really makes me reconsider traveling alongside you.
* Noelle: Susie, what about the...
* Susie: The what?
* Susie: Oh, that.
* Susie: Ugh...

#### [Obliteration Route, if spared]

* Susie: So...
* Susie: It didn't take a couple of kids for you to stop.
* Susie: It took a really sad dog.
* Susie: ...
* Susie: (Humans are fucking weird...)
* Susie: Well, whatever.
* Susie: Let's go.