From ‘Blurryface’ to ‘Breach’: The lore of Twenty One Pilots

On March 17, 2015, Twenty One Pilots released the first single from their third studio album, Blurryface. The song, titled “Fairly Local,” was the first introduction to the named character, Blurryface, from which the album got its namesake and the first puzzle piece in what would become a decade-long story told through music videos, album artwork, hidden websites, and live shows.

What started as a cryptic visual soon evolved into a sprawling narrative about Clancy, a resident of the oppressive city of Dema, and Torchbearer, leader of the rebel group called the Banditos. The ten year long journey that followed the story of Clancy and Torchbearer, created by the band’s frontman Tyler Joseph, is perfectly cracted as an interconnected world filled with coded messages and elaborate lore with battles between freedom and control.

For casual listeners, curious fans, or even those eager to catch up in the lore, this is your guide through the key chapters of the Twenty One Pilots lore, from its first appearance in 2015 to the upcoming Breach era.

The Story behind Blurryface

Released: May 17, 2015

The character of Blurryface, introduced in this album through visualization of red eyes and a deeper voice that mimics Joseph, can be heard in the songs “Fairly Local” and “Stressed Out.”

It wasn’t until the release of the “Heavydirtysoul” music video that the story truly began. The video reveals Joseph’s second escape attempt from Dema, an isolated city ruled by nine Bishops. The Bishops, who enforce a religion called Vialism, preach that ending your own life is the only path to paradise.

In the “Heavydirtysoul” video, Joseph is seated in the back of a car being driven by an unknown figure. Throughout the video, the car begins catching on fire and breaking down, while narrowly swerving to avoid Josh Dunn (the second member of twenty one pilots), who is playing drums in the middle of the road. At the end, the car finally breaks down and explodes.

The Story behind Trench

Released: October 5, 2018

Important Characters & Terms

• The Bishops: Nine rulers of Dema
• Banditos: Rebel group working to overthrow the Bishops
• Trench: Lush green continent the story takes place on
• Dema: The main city on Trench that is surrounded by a large circular wall, which is home to the nine Bishop’s towers
• Vialism: The religion of Dema
• Smearing: Black paint is applied to a person’s body in order to control them

On April 21, 2018 a fan found a URL hidden in a GIF on the Vessel page of the Twenty One Pilots store, which led to them finding a website, dmaorg.info. Through the website, fans discovered violation codes warning of being discovered by an unknown group that was later identified as the Bishops, who ruled over Dema. Found June 18, 2018 months before the release of Trench, letters from someone named Clancy gave fans the initial information about Trench, Dema, and the Bishops. 

July 11, 2018: Almost a month after the discovery of  the website, Twenty One Pilots ended their year-long hiatus and released the video for “Jumpsuit.” Continuing the story line after “Heavydirtysoul,” Joseph is seen crouching on the same car telling fans “it was time to wake up.” The video then cuts to Joseph waking up in a stream surrounded by mountains. As he walks, we learn that not only is he being chased by a figure on a horse, but there are people watching him from the cliffs. The person on the horse, who we now know as the Bishop Nico, finally catches up to Joseph. Nico then attempts to “smear” Joseph, but just as he’s about to capture him, the figures from the cliffs (the Banditos) throw down yellow petals that inspire Joseph to run. He ends up falling and being captured anyway.

The story continued two weeks later with the release of “Nico and the Niners,” (July 26, 2018) where the Banditos infiltrate Dema to help Joseph escape through secret tunnels beneath the city. Shortly following on August 8, 2018 the third and final part of the story was released through “Levitate.” Joseph has officially joined the Banditos, given their colors and taught their traditions. However, by the end of the video, one of the Bishops grabs Joseph and the screen cuts to black.

The Takeaway: After two escape attempts, Joseph has finally met the Banditos and joined their ranks. However, he is now back in Dema after being captured yet again.

The Story behind Scaled & Icy – (an anagram for “Clancy Is Dead”)

Released: May 21, 2021

Important Characters & Terms

• Sally Sacarver & Dan Lisden: One of the Bishops and a co-host of “Good Day Dema”
• Nico: The leader of the Bishops (also known as Blurryface)
• Keons: One of the nine Bishops
• Trash the Dragon: A long dead blue, fire-breathing dragon that once inhabited the ocean around Trench
• Voldsoy: An island on the outskirts of Trench
  
• Seizing: Possessing a dead body

The “Scaled & Icy Livestream Experience” introduced us to “Good Day Dema,” a propaganda program for the citizens of Dema where Joseph is forced to perform for the citizens by Sally Sacarver and Dan Lisden, both actively decaying during the entire show.

“Saturday” (July 8, 2021) takes place following the Scaled & Icy Livestream, where Joseph and Dunn are forced to perform on a submarine for Dema. While playing, Trash the Dragon swims by the submarine where Keons seizes Trash the Dragon, and destroys the submarine to free Joseph and Dunn. This also results in the Bishops killing Keons for his betrayal.

Immediately following the death of Keons and submarine crash, “The Outside” shows Joseph and Dunn washed up on the island of Voldsoy where they find a group of strange creatures that gift Joseph a set of antlers. Using these, Joseph is able to seize the body of Keons and prove to the Bishops that they are not the only ones with the power.

The Takeaway: Joseph is back in Dema and being forced to perform for the citizens of Dema on a broadcast called “Good Day Dema.” One of the Bishops betrayed the others in order to help Joseph and Dunn escape. Following their escape, Joseph received a powerful ability to sieze.

The Story behind Clancy

Released: May 24, 2024

Important Characters & Terms

• Clancy: The character played by Tyler. He is a resident of Dema who became famous for writing letters and music about his life in Dema, and later became a member of the Banditos.
• Torchbearer: The character played by Josh. He is the leader of the Banditos and appears when Clancy needs him most.
• Glorious Gones: Those who have given into Vialism and whose bodies are “vessels” used by the Bishops for seizing.

On February 22, 2024 “I Am Clancy” confirmed that Joseph was Clancy and explained everything up to the release of “Overcompensate,” (February 29) the first single from the album Clancy. 

“Overcompensate” shows Clancy and Torchbearer leaving Voldsoy and educating the citizens of Dema about the Banditos, recruiting rebels marked with red tape instead of yellow. At the very end of the video, however, we realize that Clancy was not actually there and was instead seizing a citizen. We learn that both Clancy and Torchbearer had just arrived back on the continent, now with more support from their fellow rebels.

“Navigating” (May 24, 2024) follows Clancy’s journey across Trench to reunite with Torchbearer, who has been growing the Bandito army. At the end of the video, he meets with Torchbearer and we realize that Clancy has been alone since the events of “The Outside” while Torchbearer has been leading the Banditos on Trench and building their numbers. 

Preparing to destroy Dema from the inside, “Paladin Strait” showed there was a war about to begin between Dema and the Banditos. The Bishops resurrect the Glorious Gones to battle the Banditos, while Clancy infiltrates Dema’s central tower, where he defeats the Bishops, only for Nico to appear and grab him by the neck. There is a moment where it appears Clancy succumbs to Nico, only for him to open his eyes and the screen cuts to black. 

What we found out from the Clancy World Tour

Dates: August 15, 2024 – May 14, 2025

During the first leg of the Clancy World Tour, we learned that the Bishops knew of the plan to attack them and had been intercepting letters between Banditos. They issued a letter to the people of Dema before the events of “Paladin Strait,” promising protection from the Banditos.

They even destroyed the Bandito camp and left letters with ‘Dear Clancy’ written on them in red in order to taunt him.

At the final show of the Clancy tour, a letter from Clancy to Torchbearer is found where it appears that Clancy has intentions of becoming the leader of Dema. During that same show, he rejected the Bandito uniform jacket offered to him by Torchbearer.

The Takeaway: Clancy and Torchbearer have built up their forces to attack the Bishops. We do not know what happened after Clancy confronted Nico, but letters found in the FPE exhibit on tour show that Torchbearer is trying to get Clancy back to the Banditos after the confrontation.

What we know so far: Breach
Releasing: September 12th, 2025

“The Contract” is the first single from Breach, which many fans believe will be the conclusion to the story. The video shows Clancy’s internal struggle between returning to the Banditos or joining the Bishops. We see imagery of red-eyed figures and Torchbearer offering Clancy a jacket, which we learned during tour was Clancy accepting his place among the Banditos as their leader. The video ends with Clancy opening his eyes and we see he is still in the tower with Nico.. exactly where “Paladin Strait” left off. 

It is unclear what will happen next in the story, but fans are eagerly anticipating what it means for the band and if it is truly the end.

The band’s next release, “Drum Show,” arrives this Monday, August 18, 2025. Fans are watching closely, wondering if Breach will close the book on the story that began a decade ago.

Breach is out on Sept. 12. Presave and pre-order the album here.

The band is offering exclusive listening parties to hear BREACH, on September 6 and 7, 2025, throughout various record stores across the U.S. With the album coming out less than a week later, they are making sure the fans are ready and excited.

The Clancy Tour: Breach Dates:
9/18 – Cincinnati, OH – TQL Stadium
9/20 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
9/23 – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Insurance Amphitheater
9/24 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheater
9/27 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium
9/28 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
9/30 – Hartford, CT – Xfinity Theatre
10/1 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater
10/4 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
10/5 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
10/7 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
10/8 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
10/10 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheater
10/11 – Tampa, FL – MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheater
10/14 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater
10/15 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheater
10/17 – Birmingham, AL – Coca-Cola Amphitheater
10/19 – Rogers, AR – Walmart Amp
10/20 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
10/23 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheater
10/25 – Los Angeles, CA – BMO Stadium

This article is simply an introduction of the world created by Tyler Joseph. If you are interested in learning more, here are a few deep dives into the lore. https://twentyonepilots.fandom.com/wiki/Dmaorg.info or https://topmasterdoc.carrd.co/

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