Any decent free 3d modelling tools/animation creating tools?

[Makanyane]

I don't think it will work as a mount - unless you actually want your Saruman to use an elephant skeleton so it can accept real riders....

see
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showp...6&postcount=15
and the rest of that thread for idea of using invisible siege weapon and visible officer to be the magic thrower.

EDIT: sorry just saw Thor's post - that might work too, the advantage of siege over normal unit is that you can make sure you only have one projectile coming from unit and alter its displacement so it looks like it comes from the visible officer.