Please note, too, that areas have 'personalities'. Its citizens are also different from one area to another not just merely names and descriptions. Some areas have better trained citizens or are more equipped. Or so hostile that it won't lose track of you and will hunt you anywhere except a safe room. So if you find NPCs in an area to be troublesome, you might want to check other places or learn to deal with it or fight better. Read HELP NPC for more info about NPCs in general.