One of my post disappeared? Anyway, portals work, only using them in a smarter way is a game feature, not a bug, and all depend on upgrades performed with Variel at the Keep, along with Greycloacks weaponery and other "organization upgrades". Here is what game pressure says about it, and I already got the options with Variel myself and I'd get there at some point: Portal upgrade - costs 5 adamant and 5 darksteel/ After the upgrade you will be able to teleport from Crossroads Keepto your trade outposts. The travel, however, is still one way... http://guides.gamepressure.com/neverwinternights2stormofzehir/guide.asp?ID=7387