I instinctively used ~killall (which unfortunately killed a couple NPCs and Eastmarch Guards).

What is the best practice here? Can they actually not attack you till you finish chopping wood? I was surprised that the dialog for them to attack me started ("We're here to teach you a lesson . . .") JUST as I was starting to Chop wood. I figured the one script would shut off the other. Maybe it is a mod?

In the same playthrough, I'm also seeing some glitchy behavior when I try to pickpocket Brand-Shei. He goes Aggro and just will not let up. I leave the cell, come back I still get the battle music and he fights Stenvar until he kills him!