Witch's cackle + invisiblity + ventriloquism???

[SmiloDan]

Hi! Can an invisible witch use ventriloquism to hide her location while using the cackle hex?

[Avianfoo]

Why not?

[Oswald Pesterberger III]

To my knowledge, by RAW, cackle doesn't require and audible component. It can be done in an area of silence. But I'm on my phone at the moment and cannot check this.

[Avianfoo]

I just can't imagine a silent cackle. Wouldn't that be more of a snicker?

[CalebTGordan]

Yep, the rules for cackle say nothing about an audible component.

Quote:

Cackle (Su): A witch can cackle madly as a move action. Any creature that is within 30 feet that is under the effects of an agony hex, charm hex, evil eye hex, fortune hex, or misfortune hex caused by the witch has the duration of that hex extended by 1 round.

However, most GMs will probably rule that it doesn't work in silence.

As to the original question, I say yes. It would help in concealing your location.

[wraithstrike]

By the rules cackle would have to be a sonic affect to actually require sound.

Quote:

Roar (Su) An androsphinx can roar up to three times per day as a standard action. Each progressive roar has a different effect, depending upon whether it is the first, second, or third of the androsphinx's roars for that day. All of these roars are sonic effects that fill a 60-foot-radius burst, centered on the androsphinx; the save DCs are Charisma-based. Sphinxes are immune to all of the effects of an androsphinx's roars.

This one is a sonic effect.

Quote:

Shriek (Su) The shrill shriek of a hieracosphinx deafens non-sphinxes within a 60-foot-radius spread for 2d4 rounds (DC 16 Fortitude negates). Once a creature successfully saves against this effect, it is immune to the hieracosphinx's shriek for 24 hours. Using this ability is a standard action. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Silence(the spell) would not stop this one, but it would stop the Roar.

[Experiment 626]

Its a flavor thing, IMO. The rules don't require anything specific, so you can mumble haikus, laugh like a maniac, stare fixedly into space, or wave your hands in the air like you just don't care for a move action.

[SmiloDan]

Thanks!

I think the Shriek SHOULD have been sonic, but they forgot to make it so. A bit of RAW vs RAI. Ditto with the cackle. It would have been fun to have bards counter-cackle (harumph?) witches.

But I'm glad you can ventriloquise cackles. It will just be creepy.

[bobsayshi]

FAQ addresses the cackle is silent issue.
http://paizo.com/paizo/faq/v5748nruor1fn#v5748eaic9pkc

Quote:

Witch, Cackle Hex: Does my character literally have to cackle madly when I use this hex, or is that just flavor text?

Your character actually has to cackle—probably in a strong voice, akin to the volume and clarity necessary for verbal spell components.

Edit 7/19/13:
If the witch is in a silence effect, she can't use the cackle hex.
If the target is in a silence effect, it is unaffected by the cackle.
This may require some clarifying text in the next printing of the Advanced Player's Guide.

—Pathfinder Design Team, 06/06/13

That said, Invisibility + Ventriloquism will work as long as you're not making sound moving... and is what i'm planning when targets are willing to try hitting me when i'm invisible.