In the Rough encompasses a broad variety of media such as writing and illustration to play out the events taking place on an alternate version of Earth called Dearth.

The main story line follows The Gang that is spearheaded by Molly Mandrake and her partner, Heliotrope.

The synopsis goes as follows:

Our story takes place in the year 1985 on planet Dearth. It is our Earth, but not as we know it. The intelligent inhabitants are not human, and are in fact virals, bacterials, floro sapiens, petraphines, and on occasion, terraflors and cyanos. We do see other unique creatures as well, such as the red invasive grass, megafaun, and other giant versions of animals we recognize on Earth.

ITR itself follows Helly and Molly’s underground operation in the state of Calitonia, Anterica, to illegally manufacture and distribute solance, or soleiamphetamine, a prescription drug that alleviates the symptoms of a lack of sunlight for floro sapiens. Over industrialized smog covers much of the nation, affecting roughly a fourth of its people slowly but surely. This lack of sun results in mental illnesses, instability, and eventually, physical symptoms. Deaths are possible and have happened from this sun deficiency. It is a national health emergency that has been responded to by releasing and gouging the price of solance, leaving too many people behind.