Such is the allure of The Scarlet Pimpernel that it has lent itself to a peculiarly Internet-bound phenomenon - roleplay.

Fans of works of art (ranging from Star Trek to Baroness Orcsky) join up with other web-tied e-buddies and create their own storylines.

A roleplay is a cross between a game and a big communal story. People who join either pick a character from one of the Scarlet Pimpernel stories (books, movies, or plays) or create one of their own.

Roleplay can take place through a website or via e-mail.

One character begins a thread (a mini story within the big theme) and others reply to, saying how their character responds.

This goes on as long as the characters involved want it to.