Too far to fall sense there's no way to get back on to the platforms, and it feels so slippery like you have to turn all the way (90 degrees or more) or you don't turn real sharp, and even if you do sometimes you don't turn like you'd think. And I've tried like 20 times and I'm not sure if there's even a level past the first...
A Weapon (or presumably anything) that has "create skeleton" can be equipped, used, then switched out for something better and you can keep the skeleton. Same thing is possibly usable with the other spells.