The Oathpact
The ancient binding that obligates the Heralds to return again and again to fight in each Desolation, at the cost of torment in the place they go between wars. SA:WoK:Prelude
Known facts
- mechanics-of-the-founding-bondTanavast reveals the mechanics of the Oathpact to the gathered humans: most of them once served Odium, so a Connection still exists that can be exploited. The bond requires a circle of ten — or sixteen — but never nine. He will take back their Surges and grant them anew, governed by rules that prevent a cataclysm. Ishar will spin the lines; Vedel uses Regrowth to use that Connection to draw rejuvenating Investiture from the Spiritual Realm and lock their souls at their current age, letting them be reborn again and again. The bond's secondary purpose is to allow them to travel to Braize and its *well of souls* to seal the Fused away.SA:WaT:Ch 64
- broken-and-degradingElid gasps out what Nale later confirms — the Oathpact is broken, the circle of Heralds is shattered, and the Heralds degrade. Nale and Ishar are auditioning Szeth to take Jezrien's seat and restore it.SA:WaT:Ch 90
- questioned-as-effective-against-everstorm-fusedSyl presses Nale on whether re-forming the Oathpact would actually do anything now that the Fused are being returned by the Everstorm rather than rising on their own — and the Heralds cannot answer. Nale insists they must try regardless on Ishar's word.SA:WaT:Ch 90
- oathpact-arose-from-heralds-asking-to-stop-going-backThe Oathpact originates not as Honor's plan but as Ishar's plea, brought to Tanavast on a battlefield where the Heralds are about to break. He frames it as *a deific plan — to isolate the one, yes, but save the world,* asks for confirmation, and Tanavast grants it. Honor inside him reviles the request but does not forbid it; he allows the Heralds to choose, then withdraws into the storm.SA:WaT:Ch 122
- reforged-on-shin-field-with-kaladin-as-tenthWith Honor's power being siphoned into Retribution, Ishar reforges the Oathpact on the Shin field to bind the new god in a small way and preserve the spren from him. The Wind's suggestion lets Ishar hide the Heralds' minds inside a constructed vision while their souls return to Braize between Returns — peace, perhaps, instead of torture — and Kaladin takes Jezrien's open slot as the tenth.SA:WaT:Ch 144
Backreferences
- factIshar
- summarySA:OB:Ch 41
- factFused
- summarySA:OB:Ch 64
- factBinder of Gods
- summarySA:RoW:Ch 17
- summarySA:RoW:Ch 47
- factNalan'Elin
- summarySA:RoW:Ch 50
- summarySA:RoW:Ch 54
- summarySA:RoW:Ch 82
- summarySA:RoW:Ch 101
- factDieno enne Calah
- summarySA:RoW:Ch 112
- summarySA:WoK:Prelude
- summarySA:WaT:Prologue
- factGavilar Kholin
- summarySA:WaT:Ch 33
- factIshar
- factBattah
- factThe Heralds
- summarySA:WaT:Ch 50
- factDalinar Kholin
- summarySA:WaT:Ch 64
- factThe Oathpact
- summarySA:WaT:Ch 77
- factIshar
- summarySA:WaT:Ch 90
- factThe Oathpact
- factThe Oathpact
- factSzeth-son-son-Vallano
- summarySA:WaT:Ch 93
- summarySA:WaT:Ch 95
- factThe Heralds
- summarySA:WaT:Ch 108
- factNalan'Elin
- summarySA:WaT:Ch 122
- factThe Heralds
- factThe Oathpact
- factTanavast
- summarySA:WaT:Ch 135
- factIshar
- summarySA:WaT:Ch 138
- factThe Oathpact
- factKaladin
- factKaladin's Honorspear
- summarySA:WaT:Ch 145
- factKaladin
- factRetribution
- summarySA:WaT:Postlude
- factIshar
- factKaladin