Salamander society is both matriarchal and geretocratic. Even in Royal Spawning Pools it is rare for one in ten tadpoles to live long enough become morphlings, which compete with each other for meagre rations with culls of failures. Juveniles exist as a slave underclass in which death from overwork, minimal rations or the whims of their overseers and mentors was always an option and to whom the chance to prove themselves on the battlefield as disposable meatshields was a welcome change of pace. Those lucky fellows to survive their trials by fire become adult males , which live as free workers with a measure of legal protection overseeing the toiling masses of juveniles working on various projects to improve their performance. Even so duels are frequent enough fairs for prospects at promotion and as a way of resolving issues and criminal activities among males targeting against other males is fairly common and the punishment for many infractions among males is death (though a trial is required in most situations). Even so the wise male scrimps and saves what he can, as during his 28th to 35th years his final metamorphosis will begin. He will become ravenous for food, grow to over 2.5 meters tall while packing on 350 to 450 kilos as his reproductive organs reconfigure themselves as he becomes female over the course of two years. Those that run out of funds or do not have the support of an established Female during this process can starve themselves to death during this phase as they can not afford their steadily increasing caloric intake. Duels fought for possession of finances by males approaching or undergoing metamorphosis are fairly common. Even so, for those which survive this final period of trial to be accepted as fully fledged females (generally confirmed by the laying of their first clutch of eggs) they can look forward to possibly two centuries (and sometimes even more than that) of high status with power over juveniles and males, at least if she does not die in combat before that.





The majority of Females in the Salamander Queendoms are Matrons, which are sub divided into various tiers and ranks. Above them are Matriarchs which rule over substantial fiefs with several tiers and at the top are sovereign queens. A Female can rise and fall through a complex system of means including accomplishments, alliances, patronage, wealth and occasionally assassination, but even the lowliest of them holds a position of power akin to that of a human nobleman. Adult Male Salamanders are naturally inclined to obey female Salamanders. Those that serve well get the privilege of mating with them and develop a bond with their females. It is not an absolute obedience, but it holds up well enough. However female salamander are not idle things which sit back, commanding their males to do this and that between spawnings. The lowest rank of Matron are "Yoke Matrons", who are in charge of small agricultural villages and pull plows among other such heavy when not heavily gravid. Even Century Old Queens make regular exercise to show their strength, even if their duties lie in signing decrees, drafting documents and holding court. The most visible display of the strength of Female Salamanders are battle Matrons.





Battle Matrons were often full time soldiers before their metamorphosis who survived a long and dangerous life to mature to adulthood who's metamorphosis is funded by the patronage of their Matriarchs. They are clad in suits of steel plate armor that can sometimes get to up to a centimeter thick in places and the best weapons available. Though they are often outnumbered by multitudes of disposable spear fodder and adult soldiers, even a single Battle Matron can be devastating. In an unarmed fight between a Matron and an Adult Male the female is usually able to quickly rip her younger counterpart terminally asunder. This one is carrying a massive matchlock musket that could fire about half a kilo of cast iron at their foes. These weapons are new, but their impact on the battlefield has been felt. In battle she'd have a two or three such weapons and up to ten juvenile attendants acting as loaders. All of which hoping for the off chance to one day to be as mighty as their mistress.

