Portals become accessible to a mage beginning at I believe level 40, first with Org, UC and SMC, followed by TB at 50 I think; Shat can be learned at 65. To make them, you need a rune of portals.
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"Do you know what "nemesis" means? A righteous infliction of retribution manifested by an appropriate agent. Personified in this case by an 'orrible c*** : me."