archivist does have so many applications its mind-boggling, I hadn't thought of it but it could be the way to go.
As for using undead, as I stated in my first post I'm hoping to avoid it, although it does solve a lot of storage problems. It does open up the possibility of holding uncontrolled skeletons inside and "firing" them at your enemies by turning the bag inside out though. Perhaps undead in BoH for easy access and Warbeasts in Enveloping Pits to be taken out when needed. For those of you unfamilier with MMII, Warbeast gives some nice boosts to any Animal, Beast, or Vermin, and makes them purchaseable at 100 gp + 75gp per HD. So dire animals, monstrous scorpions, and the like are all purchaseable at very reasonable rates ( CR-wise, often cheaper than skellies)