Perhaps then, for the sake of sensitivity it would be more appropriate to use something along the lines of 'minion' or 'follower'.
You can probably call them slaves if they're not "owned" by the player, but acquiring them makes them your minion. Maybe freeing them will make them willingly want to help you. "Indentured servants" is a good one.
Realized my genius picture was too small Edit: Geniusness remooooved Gosh now it's too big, I think I'll just stop now...
No, it's actually a term used. It's not technically slavery, but it is locking someone into a bond (normally as a result of debt). They are, however, freed and paid after a set term. Even so, they are subject to physical punishment and are governed by both their owners and the court.
I've used the term 'Indentured servant' as an edit in my first post as a review for the title. A cookie for your effort Core
WANT. I will gain the trust of the slavers and then in a sick and twisted turn of events I will free the slaves and give them whips to lash the slavers with. I'm an absolutely wonderful person
I think you're confusing games here guys... You were, unfortunately, right to assume that it would get people butt-clenching hard because it's a game that's more cartoony, silly, and hence it MUST BE CHILD FRIENDLY RAAAAAAWR... But no seriously this is a game that's gonna have a much larger child audience than any of the example games, hence you get another breed of grown up in the mix, not the responsible and intelligent childless adult we all know and love, but the one who's got a kid, and therefore, anything that even HINTS at anything that could be slightly construed into some negative construction in their childs upbringing, is evil. Also known as a parent. Often these are the adults that throw the hissy fit, not the kind of people who play Civ 5 or TES/Fallout Marry me.