Make your players care deeply about a humble NPC. and then put it in danger. The mule can be a simple but powerful tool for emotional investment and narrative tension.
Beasts
The Camel Conundrum: Breathing Life into Beasts
The blog discusses enhancing the narrative potential of mundane beasts like camels in the D&D universe. Rather than treating them as mere objects, it suggests creating cultural contexts and engaging storylines around their roles, such as competitive racing and religious significance, while acknowledging the limitations of their basic stat blocks.
Encounter Every Enemy 