diff --git a/frontend/package-lock.json b/frontend/package-lock.json
index 3e56d752..fdab7ac4 100644
--- a/frontend/package-lock.json
+++ b/frontend/package-lock.json
@@ -1435,7 +1435,6 @@
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/d3-selection/-/d3-selection-3.0.0.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-fmTRWbNMmsmWq6xJV8D19U/gw/bwrHfNXxrIN+HfZgnzqTHp9jOmKMhsTUjXOJnZOdZY9Q28y4yebKzqDKlxlQ==",
       "license": "ISC",
-      "peer": true,
       "engines": {
         "node": ">=12"
       }
@@ -1913,7 +1912,6 @@
       "integrity": "sha512-QP88BAKvMam/3NxH6vj2o21R6MjxZUAd6nlwAS/pnGvN9IVLocLHxGYIzFhg6fUQ+5th6P4dv4eW9jX3DSIj7A==",
       "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
-      "peer": true,
       "engines": {
         "node": ">=12"
       },
@@ -2053,7 +2051,6 @@
       "integrity": "sha512-ITcnkFeR3+fI8P1wMgItjGrR10170d8auB4EpMLPqmx6uxElH3a/hHGQabSHKdqd4FXWO1nFIp9rRn7JQ34ACQ==",
       "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
-      "peer": true,
       "dependencies": {
         "esbuild": "^0.25.0",
         "fdir": "^6.5.0",
@@ -2128,7 +2125,6 @@
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/vue/-/vue-3.5.25.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-YLVdgv2K13WJ6n+kD5owehKtEXwdwXuj2TTyJMsO7pSeKw2bfRNZGjhB7YzrpbMYj5b5QsUebHpOqR3R3ziy/g==",
       "license": "MIT",
-      "peer": true,
       "dependencies": {
         "@vue/compiler-dom": "3.5.25",
         "@vue/compiler-sfc": "3.5.25",
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/CharacterCard.vue b/frontend/src/components/CharacterCard.vue
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fe40f436
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/CharacterCard.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+<template>
+  <div class="character-card" :class="{ 'has-action': hasRecentAction }">
+    <div class="name">{{ character.name }}</div>
+    <div class="emotions">
+      <span v-for="(val, emo) in topEmotions" :key="emo" class="emotion">
+        <span class="emo-label">{{ emo }}</span>
+        <span class="emo-bar">
+          <span class="emo-bar-fill" :style="{ width: (val * 100) + '%' }"></span>
+        </span>
+        <span class="emo-val">{{ val.toFixed(2) }}</span>
+      </span>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</template>
+
+<script setup>
+import { computed } from 'vue'
+
+const props = defineProps({
+  character: { type: Object, required: true },
+  hasRecentAction: { type: Boolean, default: false },
+})
+
+// Surface the top 3 emotions by magnitude; hide anything at exactly 0
+const topEmotions = computed(() => {
+  const current = props.character.emotional_state?.current || {}
+  const sorted = Object.entries(current)
+    .filter(([, v]) => v > 0)
+    .sort((a, b) => b[1] - a[1])
+    .slice(0, 3)
+  return Object.fromEntries(sorted)
+})
+</script>
+
+<style scoped>
+.character-card {
+  display: inline-block;
+  padding: 0.75rem 1rem;
+  margin: 0.3rem;
+  background: #2a2416;
+  color: #faf7f0;
+  border-radius: 6px;
+  font-size: 0.85rem;
+  min-width: 180px;
+  vertical-align: top;
+  border: 1px solid transparent;
+  transition: border-color 120ms ease;
+}
+.character-card.has-action {
+  border-color: #c9a45b;
+}
+.name {
+  font-weight: 600;
+  margin-bottom: 0.5rem;
+  font-size: 0.95rem;
+}
+.emotions {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: 0.35rem;
+  font-family: 'SF Mono', Menlo, monospace;
+  font-size: 0.7rem;
+  opacity: 0.92;
+}
+.emotion {
+  display: grid;
+  grid-template-columns: 55px 1fr 35px;
+  gap: 0.5rem;
+  align-items: center;
+}
+.emo-label {
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  letter-spacing: 0.05em;
+  color: #c9a45b;
+}
+.emo-bar {
+  height: 4px;
+  background: #3d3520;
+  border-radius: 2px;
+  overflow: hidden;
+}
+.emo-bar-fill {
+  display: block;
+  height: 100%;
+  background: #c9a45b;
+}
+.emo-val {
+  text-align: right;
+  color: #e5ddc4;
+}
+</style>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/StoryBeat.vue b/frontend/src/components/StoryBeat.vue
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..07d1163f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/StoryBeat.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+<template>
+  <article class="story-beat">
+    <header class="beat-header">
+      <span class="round-badge">Round {{ beat.round }}</span>
+      <span v-if="beat.characters && beat.characters.length" class="characters">
+        {{ beat.characters.join(' · ') }}
+      </span>
+      <span v-if="beat.platform" class="platform-tag">{{ beat.platform }}</span>
+    </header>
+    <div class="prose">
+      <p v-for="(para, i) in paragraphs" :key="i">{{ para }}</p>
+    </div>
+  </article>
+</template>
+
+<script setup>
+import { computed } from 'vue'
+
+const props = defineProps({
+  beat: { type: Object, required: true },
+})
+
+const paragraphs = computed(() =>
+  (props.beat.prose || '').split(/\n\n+/).filter(p => p.trim())
+)
+</script>
+
+<style scoped>
+.story-beat {
+  margin: 0 0 2.5rem;
+  padding: 1.5rem 1.75rem;
+  border-left: 3px solid #c9a45b;
+  background: #faf7f0;
+  border-radius: 0 4px 4px 0;
+}
+.beat-header {
+  display: flex;
+  gap: 1rem;
+  align-items: center;
+  margin-bottom: 0.75rem;
+  font-size: 0.8rem;
+  color: #7d6b3f;
+  flex-wrap: wrap;
+}
+.round-badge {
+  font-weight: 600;
+  letter-spacing: 0.08em;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+}
+.characters {
+  font-style: italic;
+}
+.platform-tag {
+  margin-left: auto;
+  padding: 0.15rem 0.5rem;
+  background: #eadfb8;
+  border-radius: 999px;
+  font-size: 0.7rem;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  letter-spacing: 0.05em;
+}
+.prose p {
+  line-height: 1.75;
+  margin: 0 0 1rem;
+  font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;
+  color: #2a2416;
+  font-size: 1.05rem;
+}
+.prose p:last-child {
+  margin-bottom: 0;
+}
+</style>
diff --git a/frontend/src/router/index.js b/frontend/src/router/index.js
index 62d23201..4cefb536 100644
--- a/frontend/src/router/index.js
+++ b/frontend/src/router/index.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import SimulationView from '../views/SimulationView.vue'
 import SimulationRunView from '../views/SimulationRunView.vue'
 import ReportView from '../views/ReportView.vue'
 import InteractionView from '../views/InteractionView.vue'
+import StoryTimelineView from '../views/StoryTimelineView.vue'
 
 const routes = [
   {
@@ -41,6 +42,12 @@ const routes = [
     name: 'Interaction',
     component: InteractionView,
     props: true
+  },
+  {
+    path: '/story/:simulationId',
+    name: 'Story',
+    component: StoryTimelineView,
+    props: true
   }
 ]
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/views/StoryTimelineView.vue b/frontend/src/views/StoryTimelineView.vue
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8f080711
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/views/StoryTimelineView.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,242 @@
+<template>
+  <div class="story-timeline">
+    <header class="page-header">
+      <div class="header-left">
+        <h1>Story Timeline</h1>
+        <p class="sim-id">Simulation: <code>{{ simId }}</code></p>
+      </div>
+      <div class="controls">
+        <label class="tone-field">
+          Tone
+          <input v-model="tone" placeholder="e.g. dark political thriller" />
+        </label>
+        <button @click="initChars" :disabled="busy" class="secondary">
+          Init Characters
+        </button>
+        <button @click="refresh" :disabled="busy" class="secondary">
+          {{ loading ? 'Loading…' : 'Refresh' }}
+        </button>
+        <button @click="translateNext" :disabled="busy" class="primary">
+          {{ translating ? 'Generating…' : 'Translate Next Round' }}
+        </button>
+      </div>
+    </header>
+
+    <div v-if="error" class="error">{{ error }}</div>
+
+    <section v-if="characters.length" class="character-roster">
+      <h2>Characters</h2>
+      <div class="cards">
+        <CharacterCard
+          v-for="c in characters"
+          :key="c.id"
+          :character="c"
+          :has-recent-action="recentCharacters.has(c.name)"
+        />
+      </div>
+    </section>
+
+    <div v-if="beats.length === 0 && !loading" class="empty">
+      No story yet. Initialize characters, then translate rounds to generate the narrative.
+    </div>
+
+    <StoryBeat v-for="beat in beats" :key="beat.round" :beat="beat" />
+  </div>
+</template>
+
+<script setup>
+import { ref, computed, onMounted } from 'vue'
+import { useRoute } from 'vue-router'
+import {
+  getFullStory,
+  translateRound,
+  getCharacters,
+  initCharacters,
+} from '../api/narrative'
+import StoryBeat from '../components/StoryBeat.vue'
+import CharacterCard from '../components/CharacterCard.vue'
+
+const route = useRoute()
+const simId = route.params.simulationId
+
+const beats = ref([])
+const characters = ref([])
+const loading = ref(false)
+const translating = ref(false)
+const initting = ref(false)
+const error = ref('')
+const tone = ref('dark political thriller')
+
+const busy = computed(() => loading.value || translating.value || initting.value)
+
+// Characters that acted in the most recent beat — highlighted in the roster
+const recentCharacters = computed(() => {
+  const last = beats.value[beats.value.length - 1]
+  return new Set(last?.characters || [])
+})
+
+async function refresh() {
+  loading.value = true
+  error.value = ''
+  try {
+    const res = await getFullStory(simId)
+    beats.value = res.beats || []
+    await loadCharacters()
+  } catch (e) {
+    error.value = e?.response?.data?.error || e.message || 'Failed to load story'
+  } finally {
+    loading.value = false
+  }
+}
+
+async function loadCharacters() {
+  try {
+    const res = await getCharacters(simId)
+    characters.value = res.characters || []
+  } catch (e) {
+    // non-fatal — characters may not be initialized yet
+  }
+}
+
+async function initChars() {
+  initting.value = true
+  error.value = ''
+  try {
+    await initCharacters(simId)
+    await loadCharacters()
+  } catch (e) {
+    error.value = e?.response?.data?.error || e.message || 'Failed to initialize characters'
+  } finally {
+    initting.value = false
+  }
+}
+
+async function translateNext() {
+  translating.value = true
+  error.value = ''
+  try {
+    const nextRound = beats.value.length + 1
+    await translateRound({ sim_id: simId, round: nextRound, tone: tone.value })
+    await refresh()
+  } catch (e) {
+    error.value = e?.response?.data?.error || e.message || 'Translation failed'
+  } finally {
+    translating.value = false
+  }
+}
+
+onMounted(refresh)
+</script>
+
+<style scoped>
+.story-timeline {
+  max-width: 840px;
+  margin: 0 auto;
+  padding: 2rem 1.5rem 6rem;
+}
+.page-header {
+  display: flex;
+  justify-content: space-between;
+  align-items: flex-end;
+  gap: 2rem;
+  margin-bottom: 2rem;
+  padding-bottom: 1.25rem;
+  border-bottom: 1px solid #e5ddc4;
+  flex-wrap: wrap;
+}
+.header-left h1 {
+  margin: 0 0 0.25rem;
+  font-family: Georgia, serif;
+  color: #2a2416;
+  font-size: 1.8rem;
+}
+.sim-id {
+  margin: 0;
+  font-size: 0.85rem;
+  color: #7d6b3f;
+}
+.sim-id code {
+  background: #eadfb8;
+  padding: 0.1rem 0.4rem;
+  border-radius: 3px;
+}
+.controls {
+  display: flex;
+  gap: 0.5rem;
+  align-items: flex-end;
+  flex-wrap: wrap;
+}
+.tone-field {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: 0.2rem;
+  font-size: 0.75rem;
+  color: #7d6b3f;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  letter-spacing: 0.05em;
+}
+.tone-field input {
+  padding: 0.45rem 0.6rem;
+  border: 1px solid #d4c893;
+  border-radius: 4px;
+  font-size: 0.9rem;
+  min-width: 220px;
+  background: #faf7f0;
+}
+button {
+  padding: 0.55rem 1rem;
+  border: none;
+  border-radius: 4px;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  font-size: 0.9rem;
+  font-weight: 500;
+}
+button.primary {
+  background: #c9a45b;
+  color: white;
+}
+button.secondary {
+  background: transparent;
+  color: #7d6b3f;
+  border: 1px solid #d4c893;
+}
+button:disabled {
+  opacity: 0.5;
+  cursor: wait;
+}
+.error {
+  background: #ffe5e5;
+  color: #8b0000;
+  padding: 0.85rem 1rem;
+  border-radius: 4px;
+  margin-bottom: 1.5rem;
+  font-size: 0.9rem;
+}
+.character-roster {
+  margin-bottom: 2.5rem;
+  padding: 1.25rem;
+  background: #f5efd9;
+  border-radius: 6px;
+}
+.character-roster h2 {
+  margin: 0 0 0.75rem;
+  font-size: 0.85rem;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  letter-spacing: 0.08em;
+  color: #7d6b3f;
+  font-weight: 600;
+}
+.cards {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-wrap: wrap;
+  gap: 0.25rem;
+}
+.empty {
+  text-align: center;
+  color: #999;
+  padding: 3rem 1rem;
+  font-style: italic;
+  border: 1px dashed #d4c893;
+  border-radius: 6px;
+}
+</style>