diff --git a/backend/tests/test_narrative_e2e.py b/backend/tests/test_narrative_e2e.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d374af87
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/tests/test_narrative_e2e.py
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+"""End-to-end test: simulated actions.jsonl → translate → verify story + state."""
+import os
+import json
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+from app.services.narrative.story_store import StoryStore
+from app.services.narrative.narrative_translator import translate_round
+
+
+def test_full_pipeline_from_fake_simulation(tmp_path):
+    sim_dir = str(tmp_path / "sim_e2e")
+    os.makedirs(os.path.join(sim_dir, "twitter"))
+
+    actions_path = os.path.join(sim_dir, "twitter", "actions.jsonl")
+    actions = [
+        {"round": 1, "agent_id": 1, "agent_name": "Elena", "action_type": "CREATE_POST",
+         "action_args": {"content": "The council must fall."}, "success": True, "timestamp": "t"},
+        {"round": 1, "agent_id": 2, "agent_name": "Marcus", "action_type": "DISLIKE_POST",
+         "action_args": {"post_id": 1}, "success": True, "timestamp": "t"},
+        {"event_type": "round_end", "round": 1, "timestamp": "t"},
+        {"round": 2, "agent_id": 1, "agent_name": "Elena", "action_type": "REPOST",
+         "action_args": {}, "success": True, "timestamp": "t"},
+        {"round": 2, "agent_id": 2, "agent_name": "Marcus", "action_type": "FOLLOW",
+         "action_args": {"target": 3}, "success": True, "timestamp": "t"},
+        {"event_type": "round_end", "round": 2, "timestamp": "t"},
+    ]
+    with open(actions_path, "w") as f:
+        for a in actions:
+            f.write(json.dumps(a) + "\n")
+
+    store = StoryStore(sim_dir)
+    neutral_emotions = {k: 0.0 for k in ["anger", "fear", "joy", "sadness", "surprise"]}
+    store.save_characters([
+        {"id": "1", "name": "Elena",
+         "emotional_state": {"current": {**neutral_emotions, "trust": 0.5}, "history": []}},
+        {"id": "2", "name": "Marcus",
+         "emotional_state": {"current": {**neutral_emotions, "trust": 0.5}, "history": []}},
+    ])
+
+    with patch("app.services.narrative.narrative_translator.call_llm") as mock_llm:
+        mock_llm.side_effect = [
+            "Elena addressed the gathering. Marcus's face darkened.",
+            "Elena's message spread through the quarter like a spark.",
+        ]
+        beat1 = translate_round(sim_dir, "twitter", 1, "dark fantasy")
+        beat2 = translate_round(sim_dir, "twitter", 2, "dark fantasy")
+
+    # Beats are correctly attributed and sequenced
+    assert beat1["round"] == 1
+    assert beat2["round"] == 2
+    assert "Elena" in beat1["characters"]
+    assert "Marcus" in beat1["characters"]
+    assert beat1["action_count"] == 2
+
+    # Both beats persisted
+    all_beats = store.get_all_beats()
+    assert len(all_beats) == 2
+    assert all_beats[0]["prose"] == "Elena addressed the gathering. Marcus's face darkened."
+
+    # Characters evolved per the emotional delta rules
+    chars = {c["name"]: c for c in store.load_characters()}
+
+    # Marcus DISLIKE_POST'd in round 1 → anger should be > 0 (delta 0.08)
+    assert chars["Marcus"]["emotional_state"]["current"]["anger"] > 0.0
+    # Marcus FOLLOW'd in round 2 → trust should have climbed above baseline (delta 0.08)
+    assert chars["Marcus"]["emotional_state"]["current"]["trust"] > 0.5
+    # Elena CREATE_POST'd then REPOST'd → joy and surprise both bumped
+    assert chars["Elena"]["emotional_state"]["current"]["joy"] > 0.0
+    assert chars["Elena"]["emotional_state"]["current"]["surprise"] > 0.0
+
+    # Translator state advanced — next call for round 3 would resume, not re-read
+    assert store.get_file_offset("twitter") > 0