[Sundraoi]

With the last two quests declined , I am loathed to do it again, but searching for items has gained me almost a full level without any notoriety from completeing the quests.

You do receive notoriety for all quests you complete and will lose notoriety for any quest you drop. However, it will not tell you how much notoriety you have gained... or lost. Only the "Gods" know that. Well, the gods and your faction recruiter/high priest or Red Wizard Master if you are an apprentice. You'll know when you have enough notoriety when you get your faction cloak, get called to trials, get promoted within your faction, etc. You'll never know exactly what your notoriety is however.