Trench

Lore & Background

Trench is a vast, desolate region that lies between the walled city of Dema and the mysterious, unreachable sea. Its geography is varied, featuring yellow-tinted forests, dry canyons, and murky swamps, all suffused with a sense of isolation and danger. The land is marked by the presence of the Banditos, a group of rebels who wear yellow tape and seek to help others escape Dema's influence. The environment itself seems alive with symbolism: the yellow flowers and paint represent hope and defiance, while the constant fog and darkness reflect the internal battles of those who traverse it. At the heart of Trench's lore is the lyric 'the few, the proud, the emotional' from the song 'The Hype,' which emphasizes vulnerability as strength, though it is not officially established as a formal Banditos creed. The realm is a testing ground where characters confront their fears, memories, and the oppressive doctrines of the bishops who rule Dema. Trench is also connected to the larger narrative through the character of Clancy, whose letters and journeys reveal the land's secrets. The Torchbearer, a figure who carries a lantern, guides lost souls through the darkness, embodying the hope that Trench offers. The significance of Trench lies in its duality: it is both a physical place and a metaphor for the struggle with mental health, societal pressure, and personal liberation. The music videos for songs like 'Jumpsuit,' 'Nico and the Niners,' and 'Levitate' visually depict this world, showing Clancy running through forests, being pursued by bishops, and finding refuge with the Banditos. Trench is the crucible where the narrative's themes of rebellion, identity, and redemption are forged—a place where the mud on your boots is as real as the fear in your chest.

In Their Own Story

The yellow tape fluttered in the wind as I stumbled through the murky water, the reeds scratching at my arms. Behind me, the distant glow of Dema's towers flickered like a false sun, but ahead, the Torchbearer's light bobbed through the fog. I could hear the whispers of the Banditos in the rustling leaves—'stay low, keep moving, don't look back.' My jumpsuit was torn, my feet raw, but the yellow flowers on the cliffside seemed to pulse with a life of their own, urging me forward. The bishops' eyes were everywhere, but in Trench, I was not alone. The ground beneath me was a patchwork of mud and memory, and every breath tasted of salt and rebellion.

Reader's Guide

Trench is the primary world of the Twenty One Pilots narrative, introduced as the setting for the 2018 album of the same name and its accompanying music videos. It functions as a purgatorial realm between the oppressive city of Dema and the unknown beyond, where the protagonist Clancy and the Banditos resist the control of the nine bishops. The landscape is a visceral mix of Ohio-inspired forests, dry canyons, and fog-slicked swamps, all shot through with the yellow of defiance. To navigate Trench is to accept that every shadow might hide a bishop's gaze—and every yellow flower, a reason to keep running.

Did You Know?

• The yellow tape worn by the Banditos is a symbol of defiance against the bishops, who use the color yellow to represent their control in Dema.
• Trench is directly connected to the earlier album 'Blurryface' through thematic elements, but the character Clancy first appeared in the Trench era, notably in the 'Jumpsuit' music video and associated letters.
• The Torchbearer, a figure who appears in the 'Trench' music videos, is believed to represent a guide or mentor for Clancy.
• The landscape of Trench was inspired by the band's hometown of Columbus, Ohio, as well as natural environments like forests and canyons.