Portal stones were never intended to be a major part of the noble or adventurer game. They have had a vastly outsized effect on the game (especially stable islands) for far too long, and we've had a lot of complaints about it—complaints that were, in our view, quite justified.
We took steps to rein in their influence and ensure that they are not something that anyone thinks of as a go-to method for helping their realm in wars anymore.
I am sorry you lost a character to it, but there were clear warnings that this was a danger.
