diff --git a/backend/app/services/narrative/narrative_translator.py b/backend/app/services/narrative/narrative_translator.py
index 607c563d..085aaaaf 100644
--- a/backend/app/services/narrative/narrative_translator.py
+++ b/backend/app/services/narrative/narrative_translator.py
@@ -37,10 +37,18 @@ def _format_world_locations(world: dict) -> str:
     locs = list(world.get("locations", {}).values())[:5]
     if not locs:
         return "(none)"
-    return "\n  ".join(
-        f"{_escape_braces(l.get('name', ''))} — {_escape_braces(l.get('description', ''))}"
-        for l in locs
-    )
+    lines = []
+    for l in locs:
+        name = _escape_braces(l.get("name", ""))
+        desc = _escape_braces(l.get("description", ""))
+        line = f"{name} — {desc}"
+        # Cinematic schema: if atmosphere is present, surface it to the LLM as
+        # a mood anchor for any scene set here.
+        atmosphere = l.get("atmosphere")
+        if atmosphere:
+            line += f" [atmosphere: {_escape_braces(atmosphere)}]"
+        lines.append(line)
+    return "\n  ".join(lines)
 
 
 def read_actions_for_round(
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_narrative_translator.py b/backend/tests/test_narrative_translator.py
index ea361bd9..0a9d91bd 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_narrative_translator.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_narrative_translator.py
@@ -142,3 +142,33 @@ def test_generate_prose_includes_world_context():
         assert "Magic is forbidden" in prompt
         assert "A stranger arrived" in prompt
         assert "The Tower" in prompt
+
+
+def test_location_atmosphere_surfaces_in_prompt():
+    """Cinematic location schema — atmosphere should reach the LLM."""
+    actions = [{"agent_name": "Alice", "action_type": "CREATE_POST", "action_args": {}}]
+    characters = [
+        {"id": "1", "name": "Alice", "status": "alive",
+         "emotional_state": {"current": {"anger": 0, "fear": 0, "joy": 0,
+                                          "sadness": 0, "trust": 0.5, "surprise": 0}}},
+    ]
+    world = {
+        "rules": [],
+        "locations": {
+            "tower": {
+                "id": "tower",
+                "name": "The Iron Tower",
+                "description": "dark spire",
+                "atmosphere": "oppressive silence, dust in shafts of cold light",
+            }
+        },
+        "event_log": [],
+    }
+
+    with patch("app.services.narrative.narrative_translator.call_llm") as mock_llm:
+        mock_llm.return_value = "prose"
+        generate_prose(actions, characters, tone="noir", previous_beats=[], world=world)
+
+        prompt = mock_llm.call_args[0][0]
+        assert "atmosphere" in prompt.lower()
+        assert "oppressive silence" in prompt
diff --git a/frontend/src/router/index.js b/frontend/src/router/index.js
index 4cefb536..05ee36d5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/router/index.js
+++ b/frontend/src/router/index.js
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import SimulationRunView from '../views/SimulationRunView.vue'
 import ReportView from '../views/ReportView.vue'
 import InteractionView from '../views/InteractionView.vue'
 import StoryTimelineView from '../views/StoryTimelineView.vue'
+import GodModeView from '../views/GodModeView.vue'
+import WorldBuilderView from '../views/WorldBuilderView.vue'
 
 const routes = [
   {
@@ -48,6 +50,18 @@ const routes = [
     name: 'Story',
     component: StoryTimelineView,
     props: true
+  },
+  {
+    path: '/godmode/:simulationId',
+    name: 'GodMode',
+    component: GodModeView,
+    props: true
+  },
+  {
+    path: '/world/:simulationId',
+    name: 'World',
+    component: WorldBuilderView,
+    props: true
   }
 ]
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/views/GodModeView.vue b/frontend/src/views/GodModeView.vue
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..abb9a5b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/views/GodModeView.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,225 @@
+<template>
+  <div class="godmode">
+    <nav class="sim-nav">
+      <router-link :to="`/story/${simId}`">Story</router-link>
+      <router-link :to="`/godmode/${simId}`" class="active">God Mode</router-link>
+      <router-link :to="`/world/${simId}`">World</router-link>
+    </nav>
+
+    <h1>God Mode</h1>
+    <p class="subtitle">Author-controlled interventions. Changes take effect on the next translated round.</p>
+
+    <section class="card inject">
+      <h2>⚡ Inject World Event</h2>
+      <p class="hint">A new world event the narrator will weave into the next scene. (Current enforcement: <strong>hard</strong> — opening line MUST reference it.)</p>
+      <textarea v-model="eventDesc" rows="3"
+                placeholder="A stranger arrives at the market, carrying a sealed letter."></textarea>
+      <div class="row">
+        <input v-model.number="eventRound" type="number" min="0"
+               placeholder="Round (optional — defaults to next round)" />
+        <button @click="doInject" :disabled="busy || !eventDesc">Inject</button>
+      </div>
+    </section>
+
+    <section class="card emotion">
+      <h2>💭 Modify Character Emotions</h2>
+      <p class="hint">Overwrite any emotion directly. Unchanged emotions keep their current values.</p>
+      <select v-model="emoCharId" @change="onEmoCharChange">
+        <option value="">Select character…</option>
+        <option v-for="c in aliveChars" :key="c.id" :value="c.id">{{ c.name }}</option>
+      </select>
+      <div v-if="emoCharId" class="sliders">
+        <div v-for="emo in emotions" :key="emo" class="slider-row">
+          <label>{{ emo }}</label>
+          <input type="range" min="0" max="1" step="0.05" v-model.number="emoValues[emo]" />
+          <span>{{ emoValues[emo].toFixed(2) }}</span>
+        </div>
+        <button @click="doModifyEmotion" :disabled="busy">Apply</button>
+      </div>
+    </section>
+
+    <section class="card kill">
+      <h2>☠ Kill Character</h2>
+      <p class="warning">
+        Irreversible in v1. Auto-appends a death event to the world log so
+        the narrator knows they're gone.
+      </p>
+      <select v-model="killCharId" @change="killConfirm = ''">
+        <option value="">Select character…</option>
+        <option v-for="c in aliveChars" :key="c.id" :value="c.id">{{ c.name }}</option>
+      </select>
+      <input v-if="killCharId" v-model="killConfirm"
+             :placeholder="`Type '${selectedKillName}' to confirm`" />
+      <button @click="doKill" :disabled="busy || !canKill" class="danger">
+        Kill {{ selectedKillName }}
+      </button>
+    </section>
+
+    <div v-if="error" class="error">{{ error }}</div>
+    <div v-if="success" class="success">{{ success }}</div>
+  </div>
+</template>
+
+<script setup>
+import { ref, computed, onMounted } from 'vue'
+import { useRoute } from 'vue-router'
+import { getCharacters, injectEvent, modifyEmotion, killCharacter } from '../api/narrative'
+
+const route = useRoute()
+const simId = route.params.simulationId
+
+const emotions = ['anger', 'fear', 'joy', 'sadness', 'trust', 'surprise']
+
+const characters = ref([])
+const busy = ref(false)
+const error = ref('')
+const success = ref('')
+
+const eventDesc = ref('')
+const eventRound = ref(null)
+
+const emoCharId = ref('')
+const emoValues = ref(Object.fromEntries(emotions.map(e => [e, 0])))
+
+const killCharId = ref('')
+const killConfirm = ref('')
+
+const aliveChars = computed(() =>
+  characters.value.filter(c => (c.status || 'alive') !== 'dead')
+)
+
+const selectedKillName = computed(() => {
+  const c = characters.value.find(c => c.id === killCharId.value)
+  return c?.name || ''
+})
+
+// Typed-name confirmation — case-insensitive, whitespace-trimmed
+const canKill = computed(() =>
+  killCharId.value &&
+  selectedKillName.value &&
+  killConfirm.value.trim().toLowerCase() === selectedKillName.value.toLowerCase()
+)
+
+async function loadCharacters() {
+  try {
+    const res = await getCharacters(simId)
+    characters.value = res.characters || []
+  } catch (e) { /* non-fatal */ }
+}
+
+// When the user selects a character for emotion editing, preload current values
+function onEmoCharChange() {
+  const c = characters.value.find(c => c.id === emoCharId.value)
+  if (c) {
+    const current = c.emotional_state?.current || {}
+    emoValues.value = Object.fromEntries(emotions.map(e => [e, current[e] ?? 0]))
+  }
+}
+
+function flash(msg) {
+  success.value = msg
+  setTimeout(() => { success.value = '' }, 2500)
+}
+
+async function doInject() {
+  busy.value = true
+  error.value = ''
+  try {
+    await injectEvent(simId, eventDesc.value, eventRound.value || null)
+    flash('Event injected — appears in the next translated round.')
+    eventDesc.value = ''
+    eventRound.value = null
+  } catch (e) {
+    error.value = e?.response?.data?.error || e.message
+  } finally {
+    busy.value = false
+  }
+}
+
+async function doModifyEmotion() {
+  busy.value = true
+  error.value = ''
+  try {
+    await modifyEmotion(simId, emoCharId.value, emoValues.value)
+    flash('Emotions updated.')
+    await loadCharacters()
+  } catch (e) {
+    error.value = e?.response?.data?.error || e.message
+  } finally {
+    busy.value = false
+  }
+}
+
+async function doKill() {
+  busy.value = true
+  error.value = ''
+  try {
+    const name = selectedKillName.value
+    await killCharacter(simId, killCharId.value)
+    flash(`${name} has been killed.`)
+    killCharId.value = ''
+    killConfirm.value = ''
+    await loadCharacters()
+  } catch (e) {
+    error.value = e?.response?.data?.error || e.message
+  } finally {
+    busy.value = false
+  }
+}
+
+onMounted(loadCharacters)
+</script>
+
+<style scoped>
+.godmode {
+  max-width: 840px;
+  margin: 0 auto;
+  padding: 2rem 1.5rem 6rem;
+}
+.sim-nav {
+  display: flex; gap: 1.25rem;
+  padding: 0.75rem 0; margin-bottom: 1.5rem;
+  border-bottom: 1px solid #e5ddc4; font-size: 0.9rem;
+}
+.sim-nav a { color: #7d6b3f; text-decoration: none; font-weight: 500; }
+.sim-nav a.active { color: #c9a45b; border-bottom: 2px solid #c9a45b; padding-bottom: 0.15rem; }
+h1 {
+  font-family: Georgia, serif; color: #2a2416;
+  margin: 0 0 0.5rem; font-size: 1.8rem;
+}
+.subtitle {
+  color: #7d6b3f; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0 0 1.5rem;
+}
+.card {
+  background: #faf7f0; border: 1px solid #e5ddc4; border-radius: 6px;
+  padding: 1.25rem 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem;
+}
+.card h2 { margin: 0 0 0.5rem; font-size: 1.1rem; color: #2a2416; }
+.hint { color: #7d6b3f; font-size: 0.85rem; margin: 0 0 0.75rem; }
+.warning {
+  color: #8b0000; font-size: 0.85rem; margin: 0 0 0.75rem;
+  padding: 0.5rem 0.75rem; background: #ffe5e5; border-radius: 4px;
+}
+textarea, input, select {
+  width: 100%; padding: 0.5rem 0.65rem; border: 1px solid #d4c893;
+  border-radius: 4px; font-size: 0.9rem; background: white; margin-bottom: 0.5rem;
+  font-family: inherit; box-sizing: border-box;
+}
+.row { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr auto; gap: 0.5rem; }
+button {
+  padding: 0.5rem 1rem; background: #c9a45b; color: white;
+  border: none; border-radius: 4px; cursor: pointer; font-weight: 500;
+}
+button:disabled { opacity: 0.4; cursor: not-allowed; }
+button.danger { background: #8b0000; }
+button.danger:disabled { background: #8b0000; opacity: 0.3; }
+.sliders { margin-top: 0.75rem; }
+.slider-row {
+  display: grid; grid-template-columns: 80px 1fr 50px;
+  gap: 0.5rem; align-items: center; font-size: 0.85rem;
+  margin-bottom: 0.35rem;
+}
+.slider-row label { text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.05em; color: #7d6b3f; font-size: 0.75rem; }
+.error { background: #ffe5e5; color: #8b0000; padding: 0.85rem 1rem; border-radius: 4px; margin-top: 1rem; }
+.success { background: #e5f7e5; color: #2a6b2a; padding: 0.85rem 1rem; border-radius: 4px; margin-top: 1rem; }
+</style>
diff --git a/frontend/src/views/StoryTimelineView.vue b/frontend/src/views/StoryTimelineView.vue
index 8f080711..413f33d8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/views/StoryTimelineView.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/views/StoryTimelineView.vue
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 <template>
   <div class="story-timeline">
+    <nav class="sim-nav">
+      <router-link :to="`/story/${simId}`" active-class="active">Story</router-link>
+      <router-link :to="`/godmode/${simId}`" active-class="active">God Mode</router-link>
+      <router-link :to="`/world/${simId}`" active-class="active">World</router-link>
+    </nav>
+
     <header class="page-header">
       <div class="header-left">
         <h1>Story Timeline</h1>
@@ -134,6 +140,24 @@ onMounted(refresh)
   margin: 0 auto;
   padding: 2rem 1.5rem 6rem;
 }
+.sim-nav {
+  display: flex;
+  gap: 1.25rem;
+  padding: 0.75rem 0;
+  margin-bottom: 1rem;
+  border-bottom: 1px solid #e5ddc4;
+  font-size: 0.9rem;
+}
+.sim-nav a {
+  color: #7d6b3f;
+  text-decoration: none;
+  font-weight: 500;
+}
+.sim-nav a.active {
+  color: #c9a45b;
+  border-bottom: 2px solid #c9a45b;
+  padding-bottom: 0.15rem;
+}
 .page-header {
   display: flex;
   justify-content: space-between;
diff --git a/frontend/src/views/WorldBuilderView.vue b/frontend/src/views/WorldBuilderView.vue
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d2a4f0c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/views/WorldBuilderView.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,235 @@
+<template>
+  <div class="world-builder">
+    <nav class="sim-nav">
+      <router-link :to="`/story/${simId}`">Story</router-link>
+      <router-link :to="`/godmode/${simId}`">God Mode</router-link>
+      <router-link :to="`/world/${simId}`" class="active">World</router-link>
+    </nav>
+
+    <h1>World Builder</h1>
+    <p class="subtitle">Ground your story. Rules shape the world; locations shape the scenes.</p>
+
+    <section class="card">
+      <h2>World Rules</h2>
+      <p class="hint">One rule per line. These appear in every translation prompt as background context.</p>
+      <textarea v-model="rulesText" rows="6" placeholder="Magic is forbidden
+Winter is near
+The kingdom is divided"></textarea>
+      <button @click="saveRules" :disabled="busy">Save Rules</button>
+    </section>
+
+    <section class="card">
+      <h2>Locations</h2>
+      <p class="hint">
+        Each location's <strong>atmosphere</strong> is a short mood phrase — it anchors
+        the opening visual of every scene set there.
+      </p>
+
+      <div v-if="locations.length" class="location-list">
+        <div v-for="loc in locations" :key="loc.id" class="location-item">
+          <div class="loc-header">
+            <strong>{{ loc.name }}</strong>
+            <span class="loc-id">{{ loc.id }}</span>
+          </div>
+          <p v-if="loc.description" class="loc-desc">{{ loc.description }}</p>
+          <p v-if="loc.atmosphere" class="loc-atmosphere">"{{ loc.atmosphere }}"</p>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+      <p v-else class="muted">No locations yet.</p>
+
+      <form @submit.prevent="addLocation" class="location-form">
+        <div class="form-row">
+          <input v-model="newLoc.id" placeholder="id (e.g. iron_tower)" required />
+          <input v-model="newLoc.name" placeholder="Name (The Iron Tower)" required />
+        </div>
+        <input v-model="newLoc.description" placeholder="Description (what it looks like)" />
+        <input v-model="newLoc.atmosphere"
+               placeholder="Atmosphere — short mood phrase (e.g. oppressive silence, dust in shafts of cold light)" />
+        <button type="submit" :disabled="busy">Add / Update Location</button>
+      </form>
+    </section>
+
+    <section class="card">
+      <h2>Event Log</h2>
+      <p class="hint">World events, newest first. Populated by God Mode interventions.</p>
+      <ol v-if="events.length" class="event-log">
+        <li v-for="e in events" :key="e.id" :class="`evt-${e.type}`">
+          <span class="event-round">Round {{ e.round }}</span>
+          <span class="event-type">{{ e.type }}</span>
+          <span class="event-desc">{{ e.description }}</span>
+        </li>
+      </ol>
+      <p v-else class="muted">No events yet.</p>
+    </section>
+
+    <div v-if="error" class="error">{{ error }}</div>
+    <div v-if="success" class="success">{{ success }}</div>
+  </div>
+</template>
+
+<script setup>
+import { ref, computed, onMounted } from 'vue'
+import { useRoute } from 'vue-router'
+import { getWorld, setWorldRules, upsertLocation } from '../api/narrative'
+
+const route = useRoute()
+const simId = route.params.simulationId
+
+const world = ref({ rules: [], locations: {}, event_log: [] })
+const rulesText = ref('')
+const newLoc = ref({ id: '', name: '', description: '', atmosphere: '' })
+const busy = ref(false)
+const error = ref('')
+const success = ref('')
+
+const locations = computed(() => Object.values(world.value.locations || {}))
+// Event log: show newest first for readability
+const events = computed(() => (world.value.event_log || []).slice().reverse())
+
+async function load() {
+  try {
+    const res = await getWorld(simId)
+    world.value = res
+    rulesText.value = (res.rules || []).join('\n')
+  } catch (e) {
+    error.value = e?.response?.data?.error || e.message
+  }
+}
+
+function flash(msg) {
+  success.value = msg
+  setTimeout(() => { success.value = '' }, 2500)
+}
+
+async function saveRules() {
+  busy.value = true
+  error.value = ''
+  try {
+    const rules = rulesText.value.split('\n').map(r => r.trim()).filter(Boolean)
+    await setWorldRules(simId, rules)
+    flash('Rules saved.')
+    await load()
+  } catch (e) {
+    error.value = e?.response?.data?.error || e.message
+  } finally {
+    busy.value = false
+  }
+}
+
+async function addLocation() {
+  busy.value = true
+  error.value = ''
+  try {
+    // Only send non-empty optional fields so backend stores a clean record
+    const payload = { id: newLoc.value.id, name: newLoc.value.name }
+    if (newLoc.value.description) payload.description = newLoc.value.description
+    if (newLoc.value.atmosphere) payload.atmosphere = newLoc.value.atmosphere
+
+    await upsertLocation(simId, payload)
+    flash(`Location ${newLoc.value.name} saved.`)
+    newLoc.value = { id: '', name: '', description: '', atmosphere: '' }
+    await load()
+  } catch (e) {
+    error.value = e?.response?.data?.error || e.message
+  } finally {
+    busy.value = false
+  }
+}
+
+onMounted(load)
+</script>
+
+<style scoped>
+.world-builder {
+  max-width: 840px;
+  margin: 0 auto;
+  padding: 2rem 1.5rem 6rem;
+}
+.sim-nav {
+  display: flex; gap: 1.25rem;
+  padding: 0.75rem 0; margin-bottom: 1.5rem;
+  border-bottom: 1px solid #e5ddc4; font-size: 0.9rem;
+}
+.sim-nav a { color: #7d6b3f; text-decoration: none; font-weight: 500; }
+.sim-nav a.active { color: #c9a45b; border-bottom: 2px solid #c9a45b; padding-bottom: 0.15rem; }
+h1 {
+  font-family: Georgia, serif; color: #2a2416;
+  margin: 0 0 0.5rem; font-size: 1.8rem;
+}
+.subtitle {
+  color: #7d6b3f; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0 0 1.5rem;
+}
+.card {
+  background: #faf7f0; border: 1px solid #e5ddc4; border-radius: 6px;
+  padding: 1.25rem 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem;
+}
+.card h2 { margin: 0 0 0.5rem; font-size: 1.1rem; color: #2a2416; }
+.hint, .muted {
+  color: #7d6b3f; font-size: 0.85rem; margin: 0 0 0.75rem;
+}
+.muted { font-style: italic; }
+textarea, input {
+  width: 100%; padding: 0.5rem 0.65rem; border: 1px solid #d4c893;
+  border-radius: 4px; font-size: 0.9rem; background: white; margin-bottom: 0.5rem;
+  font-family: inherit; box-sizing: border-box;
+}
+textarea { resize: vertical; font-family: Georgia, serif; }
+button {
+  padding: 0.5rem 1rem; background: #c9a45b; color: white;
+  border: none; border-radius: 4px; cursor: pointer; font-weight: 500;
+}
+button:disabled { opacity: 0.5; cursor: wait; }
+.location-list {
+  margin-bottom: 1rem;
+  border: 1px solid #e5ddc4;
+  border-radius: 4px;
+  overflow: hidden;
+}
+.location-item {
+  padding: 0.75rem 1rem;
+  border-bottom: 1px solid #e5ddc4;
+  background: white;
+}
+.location-item:last-child { border-bottom: none; }
+.loc-header {
+  display: flex; justify-content: space-between; align-items: baseline;
+}
+.loc-header strong { color: #2a2416; font-size: 0.95rem; }
+.loc-id {
+  font-family: 'SF Mono', Menlo, monospace; font-size: 0.75rem;
+  color: #7d6b3f; background: #f5efd9; padding: 0.1rem 0.4rem; border-radius: 3px;
+}
+.loc-desc { margin: 0.35rem 0 0; color: #5a4f2f; font-size: 0.88rem; }
+.loc-atmosphere {
+  margin: 0.35rem 0 0; color: #8b7a40; font-size: 0.85rem;
+  font-style: italic; font-family: Georgia, serif;
+}
+.location-form {
+  margin-top: 0.75rem; padding-top: 0.75rem;
+  border-top: 1px dashed #d4c893;
+}
+.form-row {
+  display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 2fr; gap: 0.5rem;
+}
+.event-log { list-style: none; padding: 0; margin: 0; }
+.event-log li {
+  display: grid;
+  grid-template-columns: 80px 160px 1fr;
+  gap: 0.75rem;
+  padding: 0.55rem 0;
+  border-bottom: 1px dashed #e5ddc4;
+  font-size: 0.88rem;
+  align-items: baseline;
+}
+.event-log li:last-child { border-bottom: none; }
+.event-round { color: #c9a45b; font-weight: 600; }
+.event-type {
+  font-family: 'SF Mono', Menlo, monospace;
+  font-size: 0.72rem; color: #7d6b3f;
+  text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.03em;
+}
+.evt-god_mode_death .event-type { color: #8b0000; }
+.evt-god_mode_injection .event-type { color: #a0571a; }
+.error { background: #ffe5e5; color: #8b0000; padding: 0.85rem 1rem; border-radius: 4px; margin-top: 1rem; }
+.success { background: #e5f7e5; color: #2a6b2a; padding: 0.85rem 1rem; border-radius: 4px; margin-top: 1rem; }
+</style>