diff --git a/apps/tui-go/internal/app/narration_test.go b/apps/tui-go/internal/app/narration_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..138e006f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/tui-go/internal/app/narration_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+package app
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/correx/tui-go/internal/protocol"
+)
+
+func TestTemplateNarrationAppendsDimLines(t *testing.T) {
+	m := NewModel(nil)
+	m.width, m.height = 120, 40
+	m.theme = NewTheme(SoftBlue)
+	sid := "s1"
+	m.selectedID = sid
+	m.sessionEntered = true
+	sess := Session{ID: sid, Status: "ACTIVE"}
+	m.sessions = []Session{sess}
+
+	frames := []protocol.ServerMessage{
+		{Type: protocol.TypeStageStarted, SessionID: sid, StageID: "validate"},
+		{Type: protocol.TypeStageCompleted, SessionID: sid, StageID: "validate"},
+		{Type: protocol.TypeStageFailed, SessionID: sid, StageID: "generate", Reason: "schema mismatch"},
+		{Type: protocol.TypeSessionCompleted, SessionID: sid},
+	}
+	for _, f := range frames {
+		m.applyServer(f)
+	}
+	got := m.routerMessages[sid]
+	if len(got) != 4 {
+		t.Fatalf("want 4 narration entries, got %d: %+v", len(got), got)
+	}
+	for _, e := range got {
+		if e.Role != "narration" {
+			t.Fatalf("want role=narration, got %q", e.Role)
+		}
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(got[0].Content, "validate") || !strings.HasPrefix(got[0].Content, "→") {
+		t.Fatalf("stage.started line: %q", got[0].Content)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(got[2].Content, "schema mismatch") {
+		t.Fatalf("stage.failed line should carry reason: %q", got[2].Content)
+	}
+	rows := m.routerRows(80, 20)
+	joined := strings.Join(rows, "\n")
+	if strings.Contains(joined, "awaiting router response") {
+		t.Fatalf("placeholder must be gone once feed has entries")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/apps/tui-go/internal/app/server.go b/apps/tui-go/internal/app/server.go
index 29567fc3..c5e2ad1b 100644
--- a/apps/tui-go/internal/app/server.go
+++ b/apps/tui-go/internal/app/server.go
@@ -47,6 +47,35 @@ func inferCategory(t string) string {
 	}
 }
 
+// narrationLine maps a progress frame to a dim router-feed line, or "" if the
+// frame is not a narration trigger.
+func narrationLine(msg protocol.ServerMessage) string {
+	switch msg.Type {
+	case protocol.TypeStageStarted:
+		return "→ " + msg.StageID
+	case protocol.TypeStageCompleted:
+		return "✓ " + msg.StageID
+	case protocol.TypeStageFailed:
+		if msg.Reason != "" {
+			return "⚠ " + msg.StageID + ": " + msg.Reason
+		}
+		return "⚠ " + msg.StageID
+	case protocol.TypeSessionPaused:
+		return "⏸ paused"
+	case protocol.TypeSessionResumed:
+		return "▶ resumed"
+	case protocol.TypeSessionCompleted:
+		return "✓ workflow complete"
+	case protocol.TypeSessionFailed:
+		if msg.Reason != "" {
+			return "✗ workflow failed: " + msg.Reason
+		}
+		return "✗ workflow failed"
+	default:
+		return ""
+	}
+}
+
 // applyServer mutates the model for a single (non-buffered) server message.
 func (m *Model) applyServer(msg protocol.ServerMessage) {
 	debugLog("SRV type=%s session=%s reason=%s", msg.Type, msg.SessionID, msg.Reason)
@@ -55,6 +84,11 @@ func (m *Model) applyServer(msg protocol.ServerMessage) {
 	if msg.IsEventBearing() && msg.SessionID != "" {
 		m.ensureSession(msg.SessionID)
 	}
+	// Inject dim narration lines for progress frames. Runs in addition to the
+	// per-type handling below (which feeds the events panel separately).
+	if line := narrationLine(msg); line != "" {
+		m.appendRouter(msg.SessionID, RouterEntry{Role: "narration", Content: line})
+	}
 	switch msg.Type {
 	case protocol.TypeSessionAnnounced:
 		m.onSessionAnnounced(msg)
@@ -102,19 +136,16 @@ func (m *Model) applyServer(msg protocol.ServerMessage) {
 			s.Tools = nil
 			s.addEvent(msg.OccurredAt, "StageStarted", msg.StageID)
 		}
-		m.appendRouter(msg.SessionID, RouterEntry{"stage", "⟐ stage " + msg.StageID + " started"})
 	case protocol.TypeStageCompleted:
 		if s := m.session(msg.SessionID); s != nil {
 			s.CurrentStage = ""
 			s.addEvent(msg.OccurredAt, "StageCompleted", msg.StageID)
 		}
-		m.appendRouter(msg.SessionID, RouterEntry{"stage", "⟐ stage " + msg.StageID + " completed"})
 	case protocol.TypeStageFailed:
 		if s := m.session(msg.SessionID); s != nil {
 			s.CurrentStage = ""
 			s.addEvent(msg.OccurredAt, "StageFailed", msg.StageID)
 		}
-		m.appendRouter(msg.SessionID, RouterEntry{"stage", "⟐ stage " + msg.StageID + " failed"})
 	case protocol.TypeInferenceStarted:
 		if s := m.session(msg.SessionID); s != nil {
 			s.Active = true
diff --git a/apps/tui-go/internal/app/view.go b/apps/tui-go/internal/app/view.go
index 54fe7ac3..60d486dc 100644
--- a/apps/tui-go/internal/app/view.go
+++ b/apps/tui-go/internal/app/view.go
@@ -354,8 +354,8 @@ func (m Model) routerRows(w, h int) []string {
 			}
 		case "tool":
 			rows = append(rows, t.span("· tool output ("+itoaLen(e.Content)+" chars) — ^x to view", t.P.Dim))
-		case "stage":
-			rows = append(rows, t.span(e.Content, t.P.Faint))
+		case "narration", "stage":
+			rows = append(rows, t.span(e.Content, t.P.Dim))
 		}
 	}
 	// keep last h rows