At no point was I ever "Discouraged" from touching the portal.
I saw a wierd portal thing and was actively curious about it. The fact that it is marked on the map as one of the fast travel portals (But is unavailable while the strange portal is active) makes it even more obvious that it's not a threat.
The DM says it looks dangerous. You have two options. Leave or touch it.
I'd call that discouraging. Who in their right mind goes around touching things that look dangerous? Why is this even a topic of debate?
I get where the OP is coming from. It's valid feedback, and I've felt the same way every time I've come across Gale. I just kind of overlook it as a part of the game. I know Gale is there so I suck it up and recruit him.
