[Violist]

Jack Simth said:
For not keeping the abilities, that works at 7th; to get the abilities though, you need to start from Shapechange (9th), rather than Polymorph Any Object (8th), and must apply a Permanency modifier to it first (+4), and a one change per casting modifier (-2), for a starting point of 11th; a 100,000 gp Focus, 10,000 gp Material Component, and 2,000 xp drain net a -3, down to 8th; a long ritual (48 hours) would give another -1, for 7th. Could also increase one of the requirements (xp, MC, or Focus cost) by an order of magnitude (x10; 1,000,000 gp focus, 100,000 gp Material Component, 20,000 xp (split however between caster and target), or 480 hours (Forced March rules to continue the casting - keep Elorin on hand for eliminating fatigue and exhastion.... and pick up two Rings of Sustenence - one for caster, one for target)) for an extra -1 to the spell level.

I'm not totally enamored with the idea of spending 20 days casting this spell... (and I'm not so keen on spending XP, but I could do it). The first proposal you gave for the method gaining ability sounds good to me... now we have to come up with a name?

Edit: By the way, I did sort of ask about the Jason thing... I'm guessing there was something historical he was involved in?