Com'n Bethesda...this one is so annoying. I even tried a mod called 'run for your lives' and it didn't work.

A dragon attacked Riften.

Nura Show-Shod,
Marise Aravel,
Balimund (chasing it around with a dagger),
Haelga,
Grelka,
Nuvenor,
Edda,
and Ingun Black-Briar all died.

Madesi tried to die on the dragon, but somehow lived.
A child chased it around with fists balled trying to die too.

Interestingly, but not surprising, the dragon landed on Maven and she walked away slightly annoyed but otherwise unscathed.

Patch this nonsense. If they're not quest-givers, sure, kill them, but I lost my quests, and thus my ability to acquire Thane with this. Riften's house is typically the only one I buy.