So does riposte just randomly not work against the countess?

[Al_Ka_Pwn]

I geared up my man at arms to fight the countess, and I guess it just randomly doesn't ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ work against her because I seem to just waste turn after turn and even when she puts eggs onto him or "undresses" him or whatever he never ever ripostes.

[MarcoPants]

some attacks in the game cannot be riposted. I don't remember if the Countess has any attacks like that or not, but it's either non-ripostable or your game bugged

[sasiji]

Only Her base form dmg attacks bypass riposte.

[CrackerjackTiming]

If an attack doesn't do HP damage then you don't get a riposte. Critters like the madmen don't trigger ripostes either for that reason.

It would be pretty funny to fight ghouls if Howl triggered ripostes. The poor ghoul opens its mouth and the entire party immediately jams themselves down its throat.