However, after being defeated, the Heralds would return to Damnation, presumably where the cycle of torture would continue.When the Heralds no longer could bear the pain of torture, they were released to Roshar where Odium would come against mankind in an attempt to destroy it.It has been theorized by the reader/contributor Siibt that the Oathpact bound Odium by allowing him to focus his hatred on the Heralds. It has been explained that Damnation is a place where the vengeful souls of the ancient Dawnsingers who were slaughtered by humans reside, unable to pass on, and during a Desolation are empowered by Odium to possess Parshendi and reincarnate as their ' gods.' In between Desolations, it is these souls who torture the Heralds, venting their anger and rage upon them until they return to Roshar.

If it were to be reborn, a new Oathpact would have to be formed. There's a ghost of it in existence, fragments, but the death of Jezrien has broken the Oathpact. The other Heralds, presumably immortal, remained on Roshar and vowed not to seek each other out. Due to his continued participation, the Oathpact remained somewhat intact and functioning.

Only Talenel was killed and returned to the unnamed place. At Aharietiam, the Last Desolation, the nine surviving Heralds chose to end the Oathpact, leaving their Blades behind. The Oathpact required that the Heralds return to an unnamed place of torture (probably Damnation) of their own free will when the Desolations were past if they died while fighting in one of these battles, they were automatically returned to the unnamed place. The details of the Pact have been obscured, but it seems as though the Heralds were granted their Honorblades in return for their agreement to lead humankind against the cyclical Desolations that ravaged Roshar since humankind was exiled from the Tranquiline Halls. The Oathpact was a voluntary agreement between the ten Heralds.

Stormlight archive the way of kings