Taln never broke, this is why he kept repeating those words, he was still acting as if under torture. Once he became aware again he seemed entirely normal. The desolations only started with Gavilar bringing back the radiants/fused. Nale said something along the lines of the Oath Pact being stretched, now that Honor is no longer around. His belief that the radiants would bring back the desolations seems justified considering that's what happened: