Just an idea I got as I passed by the prisoners in carts. There could be an item be it rope or shackles, that you could use on an enemy at low hp that binds them. They could be sitting or laying face down with the arms behind their back until they despawn later. Perhaps an extra nice touch would be having them appear in the carts.
Reason for doing so is just silver payment, give people another way to make money by investing money. Maybe it’s 50 copper for shackles, and you get paid based on who/what you detain. Basic mob, 1 silver. Axe dude, 1.5. Big axe dude, 2 silver. A bounty target, doubles the bounty. Just some ideas. Would spice up the open world a little bit an encourage you to use a weapon that doesn’t 1 shot everyone.