It doesn't work at all

Both you and the chief freeze for a moment. You hope this is a sign that your spell has taken effect and his actions will soon bend to your request. You are horrified, however, when he simply looks at you with a sinister smile. You look around, trying to find any way he could be blocking the spell. You don't have to search for long, as his throne begins glowing in patterns of runes and magic symbols.

Your eyes go wide as you put the pieces together in your head. He must have a ward against manipulation spells carved into his throne! That was why he stopped and placed his hand on it when you first cast your spell. In a panic, you stand up and begin to rush toward the chief, in a last **** attempt to knock him to the floor and try your spell again.

You can't even get close to him before he holds out his staff and a bright light flashes from the tip. You stop dead in your tracks, squinting and shielding your eyes from the strobing light directly in front of you. You know, however, that just blocking the light isn't enough. You need to find a way to cancel the spell before it takes full effect...