twenty one pilots: full lore.
a collection of twenty one pilots lore.
to the best of my ability.
The Characters
Clancy.
Role: Protagonist in the "Trench" narrative
Symbolism: Represents the journey toward self-discovery and freedom from oppression.
Appearance: Described through his journal entries, Clancy is often seen in yellow attire, the color of the Banditos. Later, however, his outfit consists of red attire with a mask.
Traits: Reflective, courageous, driven by a desire for freedom.
Background: Clancy is a resident of Dema who becomes aware of the oppressive nature of the city and seeks to escape. His journey through Trench symbolizes the struggle against internal and external demons.
Torchbearer.
Role: Leader of the Banditos.
Symbolism: Enlightenment and guidance.
Appearance: Often depicted with a torch, leading the way for others, wearing a yellow bandana to cover his face and yellow tape on his clothes.
Traits: Wise, fearless, inspiring leader.
Background: The Torchbearer is instrumental in guiding Clancy and others through Trench, offering hope and strategic leadership in the fight against the bishops.
Blurryface/Nico.
Role: Primary antagonist.
Symbolism: Represents Tyler Joseph's insecurities, anxiety, and depression. Often seen as the dark voice inside Tyler's head.
Appearance: As Blurryface: characterized by the black paint on Tyler's neck and hands during performances, symbolizing his grip on Tyler. As Nico: Bishop outfit.
Traits: Manipulative, controlling, embodies fear and doubt.
Background: Nico is the lead bishop of Dema, enforcing strict control over its inhabitants. He uses psychological tactics to maintain his power and keep people within the walls of Dema.
The Bishops.
Role: Antagonists, rulers of Dema.
Symbolism: Each bishop represents a different fear.
Appearance: The bishops are often depicted in dark, authoritative attire, exuding an aura of menace and control.
Nico.
Fear: Success.
Keons.
Fear: Repetition.
Lisden.
Fear: What's coming, not being enough.
Sacarver.
Fear: Love.
Listo.
Fear: Abandonment and overthinking.
Reisdro.
Fear: Self-doubt.
Fetomo.
Fear: Conformity.
Andre.
Fear: Staying the same, never changing.
Nills.
Fear: Defeat.
The Banditos.
Role: Rebels against the bishops
Symbolism: Hope, resistance, and freedom.
Appearance: Wear yellow attire and tape, symbolizing protection and defiance.
Traits: Courageous, united, determined to overthrow the bishops and liberate Dema.
Background: The Banditos reside in Trench, a treacherous landscape surrounding Dema. They work to rescue inhabitants and weaken the bishops' control.
Ned.
Role: Symbolic creature representing creativity and self-acceptance.
Symbolism: Innocence, creativity, and the pure aspects of one's personality.
Appearance: A cute, fluffy creature with big eyes and horns, often seen in music videos.
Traits: Gentle, curious, embodies positive aspects of the psyche.
Background: Ned appears in the "Chlorine" music video, where he represents Tyler's creative spirit and the journey to accept and nurture this part of himself.
Clancy's Rebellion.
Role: Clancy's organized resistance against the bishops
Symbolism: Collective strength, the power of unity, and rebellion.
Appearance: Members are marked by their yellow attire and symbols of the Banditos.
Traits: Strategic, resourceful, united in their goal to dismantle Dema's oppressive regime.
Background: Clancy's rebellion grows as he recruits more inhabitants of Dema who share his desire for freedom. Together, they plan and execute missions to undermine the bishops' control and spread hope throughout the city.
The Locations.
Trench.
Role: The surrounding landscape and path to freedom.
Symbolism: The arduous journey toward self-acceptance and liberation.
Appearance: A harsh and treacherous landscape filled with dangers and challenges.
Background: Trench is the path Clancy and the Banditos must navigate to escape Dema and reach freedom.
Dema.
Role: The oppressive city ruled by the bishops.
Symbolism: Mental captivity, oppression, and despair.
Appearance: A walled city with strict surveillance and an atmosphere of control and fear.
Background: Dema is the central setting for the "Trench" narrative, representing the mental and emotional struggles faced by the inhabitants.
Voldsoy.
Role: An island off the shore of Trench. This is where Clancy and Torchbearer go after escaping Trench. It has a large population of Neds.
Symbolism: A place of transition and hidden knowledge.
Appearance: Often depicted as a remote and mysterious area within the Trench landscape.
Background: Voldsoy is believed to be a safe haven or a strategic point in the journey towards freedom. It's a place where Clancy and other rebels can gather information and regroup. Some theories suggest that Voldsoy holds secrets about the true nature of Dema and the bishops.
Port Vail.
Role: A port on the shore of Trench, controlled by Dema, where the Annual Assembly of the Glorified takes place in a submarine.
Symbolism: Represents a transitional place and escape route.
Appearance: A harbour-like area on the frozen (icy) shore of Trench with multiple boats and docks.
The Submarine: represents a vessel of escape and exploration, reflecting themes of seeking refuge and venturing into the unknown. It embodies a means of navigating through turbulent emotions and oppressive environments, much like the band's overarching narrative of escaping Dema.
Concepts / Events.
Vialism.
Defenition: Vialism is the religion within Dema.
Symbolism: Represents the oppressive control and manipulation by the bishops.
Practices: The inhabitants of Dema are expected to adhere to Vialism, which involves strict conformity and submission to the bishops' rule.
Impact on Inhabitants: Vialism enforces a rigid societal structure, suppressing individuality and freedom. The end goal of the religion is for one to take their own life.
Furthermore: Citizens of Dema who have committed to Vialism and ended their lives are referred to as 'The Glorious Gone'. They each get a neon gravestone around the city. Their bodies are referred to as ‘available vessels’ for seizing.
Seizing.
Defenition: An art/ritual the bishops use to possess dead bodies (usually of the glorious gone). Others (but likely just Clancy) can use it via antlers from Neds.
Symbolism: Represents the loss of freedom and autonomy.
Furthermore: We don’t know for sure, but Clancy theorises that perhaps the bishops can use it on living beings, and that it had been used on him at points.
Smearing.
Defenition: This is what happens when an individual is captured by a bishop. It causes black marks on the persons neck and hands.
Symbolism: Represents the spreading of fear, control, and the mark of the bishops' influence.
Purpose: To intimidate and maintain psychological dominance over the inhabitants of Dema.
The Annual Assembly of the Glorified.
Defenition: This is an annual meeting of all of the VIPs of Dema. One year it was held on a submarine outside of the city.
Symbolism: Reinforces the control and indoctrination of the population.
The Feature Performance Event.
Defenition: A significant event/performance orchestrated by the bishops.
Symbolism: Represents the manipulation and spectacle used to control and distract the inhabitants.
Purpose: To reinforce Vialism and maintain the facade of order and glory within Dema.
Furthermore: This was a live event performed by Clancy while he was a prisoner and making Dema propaganda. The event was hosted by two bishops possessing dead bodies using Pyschokinesis. The bodies slowly deteriorated over the course of the event. Clancy played one song (Choker) and spent the whole time daydreaming himself performing other music with the Torchbearer. This is also an example of an FPE (initials often re-used and referred to in twenty one pilots lore).
Failed Perimeter Escape.
Defenition: An unsuccessful attempt by inhabitants to escape from Dema.
Symbolism: Highlights the dangers and difficulties of seeking freedom.
Consequences: Those who fail face severe punishment or reconditioning, reinforcing the sense of hopelessness.
dmaorg.info.
Defenition: A website Clancy used to spread letters and media about Dema. The bishops found the site and took it down for a while, but Clancy has since got it back up following his escape.
Symbolism: Acts as a bridge between the real world and the fictional world of Dema and Trench.
Content: Includes journal entries from Clancy, coded messages, and other lore-related information.
'East is Up'.
Defenition: A code phrase used amongst Banditos to help identify each other. This phrase is used because the way out of Dema is in the east side of the wall.
Symbolism: Represents the direction towards freedom and resistance against the bishops.
Meaning: Encourages perseverance and the pursuit of liberation, as east symbolizes the rise of the sun and new beginnings.
'Sahlo Folina'.
Defenition: A phrase used within the lore, meaning "act with wisdom." What the Banditos cry out when they are in need of help.
Symbolism: Represents the need for strategic thinking and caution in the fight against the bishops.
Vultures.
Defenition: Symbolic creatures representing the constant surveillance and danger in Dema, but also representing the Bandito's.
Symbolism: Embody the ever-present threat of the bishops and the peril of attempting escape. For the Bandito’s, Vultures are a symbol of their commitment to turn death into life and to continue living.
||-//.
Defenition: The symbol representing the Banditos and their resistance. It is rebellious as it is an upside down neon gravestone. The gravestones resemble /-|. The extra lines two around the symbol are symbolic of a 'jumpsuit' something covering us and giving us support.
Symbolism: Represents unity, defiance, and the fight against oppression.
Meaning: The symbol signifies the break from the control of the bishops and the journey towards freedom in Trench.
Good Day Dema.
Defenition: A live form TV show hosted by two bishops to spread Dema propaganda. It hosted the feature performance event.
Symbolism: Represents the facade of normalcy and contentment maintained by the bishops.
Usage: Enforced as part of the daily life in Dema, masking the underlying oppression and control.
The Albums.
Not every album has (as big of) an impact on the lore, but I'll still quickly recap the ones that don't have / have very little impact :)
No Phun Intended (2008).
Content: Tyler Joseph's solo project before Twenty One Pilots was officially formed. The album includes raw, introspective tracks that explore themes of loneliness, existential angst, and personal struggle.
Significance in Lore: While not directly part of the official lore, "No Phun Intended" lays the groundwork for the themes that would later be central to the band's music. Songs like "Save" and "Drown" introduce Tyler's battle with inner demons, a recurring motif in later albums.
Twenty One Pilots (2009).
Content: The debut album by the band, featuring Tyler Joseph, Nick Thomas, and Chris Salih. It includes tracks that deal with personal struggles, faith, and the search for meaning.
Significance in Lore: This album introduces the band's signature blend of genres and deep, introspective lyrics. The themes of mental health and internal conflict present here are expanded upon in later works, setting the stage for the creation of the characters and concepts in the lore.
Furthermore: People have theorised that songs like 'A Car, A Torch, A Death' are still part of the lore, meaning the story has been going on for 15+ years, but more on that in the theories section.
Regional At Best (2011).
Content: A self-released album by Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun. It features songs that would later appear on "Vessel" and includes tracks like "Guns for Hands," "Car Radio," and "Trees."
Significance in Lore: "Regional at Best" continues to develop the band's exploration of mental health, self-identity, and the struggle to find hope. It marks the beginning of the deeper thematic and narrative storytelling that becomes more pronounced in subsequent albums.
Vessel (2013).
Content: The band's first major-label release, featuring re-recorded tracks from "Regional at Best" and new songs. Themes of anxiety, depression, and the struggle for self-acceptance are prominent.
Significance in Lore: "Vessel" introduces the concept of inner battles and the duality of self, which later evolves into the character of Blurryface. Songs like "Car Radio" and "Holding on to You" delve into the conflict between the desire for peace and the pervasive presence of inner turmoil..
this is where shit gets real...
Blurryface (2015).
Overview: "Blurryface" is a concept album that personifies Tyler's insecurities and fears through the character Blurryface. The black paint on Tyler's hands and neck during performances symbolizes Blurryface's influence.
Key Themes:
- Insecurity and Self-Doubt: The character Blurryface represents all the negative thoughts and feelings that Tyler battles.
- Public vs. Private Self: Songs like "Stressed Out" and "Fairly Local" explore the tension between public persona and private struggles.
- Control and Resistance: Tracks like "Lane Boy" and "Not Today" touch on the desire to break free from societal expectations and internal constraints.
Narrative Elements:
- Blurryface: The antagonist who embodies Tyler's insecurities.
- The Black Paint: A visual representation of Blurryface's grip on Tyler, symbolizing the pervasive nature of self-doubt.
Trench (2018).
Overview: "Trench" is a concept album set in a fictional universe, telling the story of Clancy's escape from the oppressive city of Dema with the help of the Banditos.
Key Themes:
- Oppression and Freedom: The central theme is the fight against the oppressive control of the bishops in Dema.
- Rebellion and Resistance: Tracks like "Jumpsuit" and "Bandito" celebrate the act of rebellion and the search for freedom.
- Identity and Liberation: The album explores the journey towards self-discovery and breaking free from internal and external constraints.
Narrative Elements:
- Dema: The oppressive city ruled by nine bishops, representing various forms of mental and emotional control.
- The Bishops: Including Nico (Blurryface), they symbolize different aspects of Tyler's insecurities and fears.
- The Bandito's: A group of rebels who help Clancy in his escape, representing hope and resistance.
- Clancy: The protagonist who documents his journey and struggle against the control of the bishops.
Scaled and Icy (2021).
Overview: "Scaled and Icy" presents a seemingly more upbeat and pop-oriented sound but is layered with deeper, darker undertones. It suggests that Dema's control has evolved to use more subtle forms of manipulation. The album title is also an anagram for 'Clancy is Dead'.
Key Themes:
- Facade of Positivity: The album's bright sound masks the underlying narrative of continued struggle and manipulation.
- Subtle Control: Dema's tactics have shifted from overt oppression to more insidious forms of control.
- Resilience and Hope: Despite the facade, the themes of resilience and hope persist.
Narrative Elements:
- False Positivity: The contrast between the upbeat sound and darker lyrics suggests a deceptive veneer of normalcy.
- Continued Struggle: The struggle against Dema's control is ongoing, with the Banditos' resistance continuing in new forms.
Clancy (2024).
Overview: "Clancy" is the seventh studio album by Twenty One Pilots, released on May 24, 2024. It is a conceptual album that continues the narrative established in their previous works, particularly "Trench" and "Blurryface." The album delves deeper into the fictional world of "Trench" and the oppressive city of "Dema," exploring themes of freedom, resistance, and self-discovery.
Key Themes:
- Resistance and Rebellion: The album follows the character Clancy, who returns to Trench to free the citizens of Dema, symbolizing a fight against oppression and control. Tracks like "Overcompensate" and "Next Semester" depict personal and collective struggles against authoritative forces.
- Self Discovery and Empowerment:Songs such as "The Craving (Jenna's Version)" and "Midwest Indigo" focus on personal growth, relationships, and the power of love in overcoming adversity.
"Lavish" and "Navigating" highlight themes of self-confidence and finding one's path amidst chaos.
- Emotional Turmoil and Mental Health: The album addresses issues of mental health and emotional struggles. "Backslide" and "At the Risk of Feeling Dumb" touch on panic attacks and feelings of inadequacy.
"Routines in the Night" and "Vignette" explore themes of isolation, death, rebirth, and the cyclical nature of life and emotions.
Narrative Elements:
- Clancy's return to Trench: Clancy, the protagonist, escapes from Dema and gains a miraculous power. The storyline revolves around his mission to return to Trench and liberate his fellow citizens from the clutches of the city's oppressive bishops.
- Symbolic Locations and Characters: The locations of Dema, Trench and Voldsoy, and characters like Clancy, Torchbearer, the Bandito's and the Bishop are used to tell the story.
- Interconnected Tracks: The album features interconnected songs that reference each other and previous albums, creating a cohesive narrative. For example, "Snap Back" includes nods to earlier tracks like "Heavydirtysoul" and "Backslide."
- Emotional and Musical Journey: The album takes listeners on an emotional journey through its diverse musical styles, from the upbeat and rebellious "Overcompensate" to the tender and introspective "The Craving (Jenna's Version)." The closing track, "Paladin Strait," represents a culmination of Clancy's journey, with its grand and adventurous feel symbolizing the ongoing quest for liberation.
The Timeline.
oh boy here we go...
I am a citizen.
Clancy is a citizen of Dema, a circular, cement city in the lower portion of an otherwise wild and green continent: Trench. The citizens aren't allowed to go out there.
It isn't described how Clancy ended up in Trench or Dema, but 9 years after his arrival he starts to question Dema and their religion of Vialism. He also hears of a group called the Bandito's. His dismay grew as his struggles with Dema became visible and the call for “more” became stronger, and he formulated a plan to escape, attempting multiple times, each time being found and brought back by Nico, the head bishop. During these escapes he doesn't encounter any Bandito's.
I am an escapee.
At some point, he manages to convince Nico to take him outside the walls of the city again. He creates a firey diversion and escapes (see: heavydirtysoul).
Clancy wanders the continent of Trench for a while and eventually runs into the Banditos as he walks down a river. He is suddenly approached by Nico, who ‘smears’ him. Clancy is inspired by the Banditos (Including Josh’s Character ‘The Torchbearer’) showering him with petals to resist the smear and escapes its grasp. Clancy is recaptured and dragged down the river for a while but eventually escapes again on his own (see: jumpsuit). Clancy dissociates throughout this entire event and views it ‘out of body’ and does not recognise until later that it actually happened to him.
Clancy journeys Trench for another 5 days, not running into any more Banditos. Keons finds him one morning and takes him back to Dema. Clancy spends a few weeks in Dema before coordinating with the Banditos to escape again while the Bishops are busy with a vialism ceremony. He successfully escapes and the people of the Dema are inspired by the sight of the Banditos. (see: nico and the niners)
Clancy travels to a Bandito camp and makes rebellious music against Dema with the Banditos. The camp is attacked and Clancy is recaptured again (see: levitate).
This marks the end of the album Trench.
I am a... prisoner?
Clancy spends a few years in prison. During this time he becomes a bit of a legend in Dema for his letters and music. The Bishops harness his fame and force Clancy to write propaganda for them. This becomes ‘Scaled and Icy’. Clancy sneaks a hidden message, ‘Clancy Is Dead’ into the album title.
Clancy performs in the Feature Performance Event on Good Day Dema but spends most of it daydreaming. The show is hosted by two bishops who use Psychokinesis to control the vessels of two corpses of the glorious gone which slowly rot and fall apart as the show goes on.
(see: Twenty One Pilots Livestream Experience)
Clancy performs at the annual assembly of the glorified on a submarine outside of the city for the VIPs of Dema. He is guarded by fake bishops to intimidate him. Unbeknownst to the other Bishops they have been betrayed. An escape plan is underway. Keons betrays the Bishops and uses Psychokinesis to possess the sea dragon Trash to destroy the submarine and free Clancy and The Torchbearer (see: saturday).
The other bishops kill Keons. Clancy and The Torchbearer wash up on Voldsoy and discover creatures (Ned’s) that give Clancy the ability to use Psychokinesis. He uses this to control the vessel of Keons corpse and starts a fire in Dema (see: the outside)
Clancy has a hard time with this new knowledge, but doesn't give up, as told thru one of his letters:
"This is absurd. Why was this given to me? Why am I the only one that can wield it? Was this the reason that I survived? My mind is racing as I wait here on the rocks -- staring off into the darkness. (...) This whole time I thought I was battling my inner self. Was I actually under assault for something else? someONE else? This small eerie island has made me a weapon. We both believe that we can use it to change the momentum of this war. Now, we must return to the mainland where they should be there to recieve is. We will destroy and rebuild. Though it's been years since he last spoke with them, I hope they have not lost faith in The Torchbearers plan."
I am returning to Trench.
Clancy has the power of pyrokinesis, and resides on Voldsoy for a while, preparing for the final battle. He gets ready to cross Paladin Strait to return to Dema, which he has now filled with embers of inspiration.
Clancy and the Torchbearer return to Dema across the Paladin Strait on boat. While on the boat Clancy uses psychokineses to possess a glorious gone and teach anti-dema lessons inside the city. His attire now consists of darker clothes, a red and black mask and he seems to have painted his own hands and neck black, instead of it being that way because of being smeared. A rebellion starts to brew within the city. These rebels wear Red Tape. Clancy leaves the body and returns to his own as him and the Torchbearer arrive on the shores of Trench. Clancy has a cheeky little smirk on his face, the plan is coming together now... (see: overcompensate)
Back on the mainland of Trench, Clancy and the Torchbearer travel thru the woods, back to meet with the rest of the Bandito's. After a long journey in which Clancy is seen getting tired and losing hope, Torchbearer helping him to keep going, they arrive at a clearing in the woods with a massive bonfire in the middle and there they meet... Torchbearer?
It is then revealed that Torchbearer was never with Clancy, and they had been apart since Clancy was kidnapped at the end of the Levatate MV. Torchbearer has a special ability, he can essentially send out other versions of himself into the psyche of who he wants to guide them through situations, but nobody else can see him. He wasn't with Clancy thruout the entirety of Scaled and Icy, not during the performance at the Annual Assembly of the Glorified, and not even during Clancy's adventures with the Ned's. Torchbearer was simply guiding Clancy thru it all, and as seen when Clancy gets tired and Torchbearer helps him, he needed that guidance.
Torchbearer hands Clancy his mask, a mutual understanding that it was time to burn some shit down. Behind Torchbearer, an army of Bandito's is seen, holding torches. (see: navigating)
Clancy, Torchbearer and the Bandito's are next seen at a camp, with Clancy sharpening his weapons as they prepare for the final battle against Dema. The Bishops seize vultures and use them to spy on the Bandito army. They use this info to prepare for the upcoming battle. The remaining Bishops (minus Nico) muster all their power to perform a mass seizing of the bodies of the glorious gone. They all rise from their neon gravestones, which they pull apart to use as weapons, and form an army of zombies controlled by the Bishops to protect Dema.
The Bandito's make it to Dema, ready for battle. The two armies clash outside of Dema while Clancy sneaks back into the city to find the Bishops. He climbs their tower and gets inside thru a window, removing his mask when he gets there.
Clancy is up against seven bishops (all nine minus Keons (because he's dead) and Nico) and defeats them quickly using pyrokinesis. As he defeats them, we see the zombies drop on the battlefield outside, the army falling.
When all seven Bishops are defeated, Nico blasts thru a door, floating towards Clancy and grabbing him by the neck like he's done in the Jumpsuit and Levatate MV's, attempting to smear Clancy. Clancy briefly succumbs to Nico, he looks to be in pain or at least uncomfortable, while Nico talks to him. However, he manages to find the strength to open his eyes, not giving in to Nico. If looks could kill, Nico would have died then and there, but instead the screen cuts to black. (see: paladin strait).
"THAT'S IT??"
Yeah, that's it.
For now, at least.
Theories.
if you have any theories of yourself, or found any online, please send them to me!!
my socials are in the 'about me' section :)
In this section I will make everything I think of myself grey because I don't want people to take my rambling as truth. For other theories I will provide sources if possible :)
Theory 1: Clancy is still being seized.u/mooshwa said on reddit: 'Remember the letter where Clancy talks about everything making sense? His episodes of seeing red, his dreams of visions of flying? You know how heavydirtysoul was the LAST music video released on Blurryface? You know how that was when Clancy convinced Nico to take him OUT of Dema? That means all of the music videos from blurryface, somehow, take place in Dema and Clancy was being seized during that time.'
This would mean that during the Paladin Strait MV, Clancy was also still being seized and that he's not in control of himself.
But if that's the case, why would the Bishops allow themselves to be taken down? Why would they ressurect such a massive army if they have control over their leader anyway? Maybe it's to either make the Bandito's believe they've won while they really haven't, or it's to wear them out so they're less of a threat, or maybe, in true Bishop fashion, it's to simply show how much control they really have.
Theory 2: It's a cycle that keeps repeating.u/noisybracken said on reddit that Tyler and Josh themselves have spoken about the story being about cycles and trying to break them. The cycle starts at Fairly Local, in which we see Tyler(/Clancy?) in a dark room, singing clearly about cycles. The next video is heavydirtysoul, then jumpsuit, then NATN etc. etc. At the time of u/noisybracken writing this theory, Scaled and Icy and it's video's was the most recent thing to come out.
But now, we have all of Clancy. Overcompensate, navigating and paladin strait. And how does the paladin strait mv end? With Clancy in a dark room, stuck with Nico's hands around his throat again. What if the cycle restarts again at Fairly Local? What if Clancy is doomed to keep repeating this cycle for a lifetime?
Theory 2.5: Clancy can time travel.u/Dizzy_Soil said on reddit that possibly Clancy could time travel, or maybe not time travel exactly, but relive the same cycle over and over again like groundhog day. He tries to stop Nico every time, and when he fails, the cycle repeats or he travels back in time to try again. There are many references to time and stopping time. The lyrics from message man: 'The loser hides behind A mask of my disguise And who I am today Is worse than other times You don't know what I've done I'm wanted and on the run I'm wanted and on the run So I'm taking this moment to live in the future.' give more hints towards this.
But now, we have all of Clancy. Overcompensate, navigating and paladin strait. And how does the paladin strait mv end? With Clancy in a dark room, stuck with Nico's hands around his throat again. What if the cycle restarts again at Fairly Local? What if Clancy is doomed to keep repeating this cycle for a lifetime?
Theory (?) 3: The Big Metaphor.
This really isn't as much a theory as it is pretty clear, but I think the entirety of the story is just a massive metaphor. We all know the Bishops represent different fears, and I think Dema is just a metaphor for depression, or a negative headspace in general. The bandito's are friends, your support system, and the hold that Nico still has on Clancy shows that mental health is forever, it doesn't just go away. I think this might be why the Paladin Strait MV ended on a cliffhanger.
As once said in Euphoria: 'These states will wax and wane.'
The 'depression monster' doesn't go away, you just get better at fighting it.
Theory 4: Clancy becomes a Bishop.
This theory comes from @mx-misty-eyed on tumblr.
"Clancy is using psychokinesis possibly too much and is becoming corrupted, I think he's turning into a bishop and is gonna fall victim to the cycle. The attempt to reclaim red and to reclaim the power to fight against them might turn into him giving in. Like firstly "I'm testing the limits of what a mind can do" in routines like, nobody should be using this power their minds weren't made for it."
Some more lyrics that point towards this theory:
Vignette:
'not sure when it started, peelin' from his bones. (...) hope it held together long enough for he to pitch the greener grasses. (...) clinging to promises fighting off the vignette tunnels cave visions fade swallowed by the vignette.'
Clancy is being corrupted by the power, but is hoping to hold on long enough to fix it all for everyone.
Snap Back:
"got a bad feeling that i'm about to break been a good streak but the pressure's overweight, got a bad feeling I'm gonna lose the lead. (...) if I'm gonna snap necks then I gotta snap back (...) running from a thing that I kicked in '17."
The pressure of the pyrokinesis could be the thing that's too much for him, but he has to fight (snap) back to fight Dema.
"it's a backslide, I commandeered a hot ride, drove it til the engine died, all of that progress lost today."
This could be Clancy describing the events of heavydirtysoul, and all the progress since then could be lost because he is marching back into Dema.
Paladin Strait:
"here's my chance, time to take it. can't be sure that I'll make it even though I'm past the point of no return. i'm all in, I'm surrounded. put my money where my mouth is."
Clancy is past the point of no return in two ways. He's going to fight them and there's no turning back now, and he's been corrupted and he's aware of that and that there's no changing it now. He's just gotta complete his final goal.
Nothing to add other than that I love this theory.
Might add more later :)
Sources.
at some point i honestly lost track of the sources i used to make all of this, but here are a few of the sources that helpes me the most:
u/mooshwa's megathread:
u/gooooooodboah's explanation:
chatgpt :)
About Me.
Hi there!
My name is Mar, I am 20 years old and live in The Netherlands!
I have been a twenty one pilots fan for almost 9 years now and I've had the privilege of seeing them live once on the Bandito Tour in Amsterdam! I'll be seeing them live again during the Clancy Tour next year and I can't wait!
It sounds silly, but I don't think I would be alive if it weren't for Tyler and Josh's music. I got their logo tattooed on my arm because of how much they mean to me (and because I couldn't pick one song/lyric/image that meant the most to me, so I just went with the whole logo).
Besides being a massive tøp fan, I study geography, make my own music with my boyfriend, love reading and watching video essays, and spoil my cat, Archer, as much as I can!
my tattoo
me
my cat