Love Mythic Adventures ... a favorite all time [from the original Unearthed Arcana to Tome of Battle]!
On page 123 in "the world's reaction" section, the book states that characters are looked upon with awe, fear, respect, etc. and are no longer treated normally ... they're famous, supremely gifted, etc.
Yet Golarion lacks 24-hour cable news, the internet, etc. Let's say you have a character from Andoran or Magnimar that has adventured in Avistan and Garund until level 15/7th tier. Would NPCs in Jalmeray, Vudra, or Sarusan even know who the heck they are? What if tales of their accomplishments traveled across Avistan & Garund but they'd never been to say ... Kalsgard or Katapesh ... people might have heard of their names, but there aren't really newspapers, tv, etc. Couldn't they still move about somewhat anonymously? And let's say said characters adventure to the other side of the world in Sarusan ... for nearly a decade ... and then return. Wouldn't folks struggle to recognize them right away?
How might this work? Constructive thoughts?
I think a good example to use in this instance would be Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit (The literary version...) In Dale and Erebor he is widely known and most folk in those lands would recognize the name, probably not the face. Now... when good ole Biblo returns home to the Shire he's just regular old Bilbo Baggins, the crazy one who went on an adventure.
I would say unless there is a reason your character's actions are known in those distant lands, then there's reason to believe they would not be well known by common folk. Perhaps the names could be familiar with those in power or those who deal in gathering knowledge, but to the common folk... I'd say there wouldn't be any recognition. Just my thoughts....
Depends largely on several factors. Take Rise of the Runelords, for example - In Varisia, they would be quite well known - if the 4 player makeup were a Rogue, a Wizard, a Cleric and a Ranger, say - I'd let the campaign play out and see how it went. If the Rogue was a master of disguise and liked to keep a low profile, perhaps everyone had heard of Pickpocketus the Silent, but the stories would be largely about the Mystery of him/or her - who they really are would be fodder for dozens of tall tales - on the opposite end of the spectrum you have the Flamboyant Duelist who always leaves his calling card - which is now the official sign of the Thieves Guild in Magnimar.
To The Cleric, perhaps a Dwarven Cleric of Abadar, Lawful Good, she would be well-known throughout Varisia and almost revered as a Demigod in Magnimar depending largely on what he/she does. Maybe there's a hold of Dwarves are at odds with a Dwarf worshipping Abadar and yelling out "Cash Money" every time they channel positive energy. Maybe the phrase "Cash Money" is now used widely in the region - vexing the Wizard to no end.
To the Ranger, same thing - reknowned or feared, depending on the player's choices. The Ranger would be feared amongst the evil things in the forests surrounding Sandpoint or the Urban Sprawl of Magnimar, yet revered by those who favor good. Similarly viewed with the utmost caution by those who favor the cause of neutrality, all dependent of course on alignment.
Wizard/Sorceror - Probably more fear, perhaps some notoriety - people keep a healthy distance from their Sanctum Sanctorum. The Wizard may be more popular in an Other-Dimensional kind of way - perhaps the Denizens of Sigil find him to be quite the splendid chap.
To summarize, the average citizen will speak of them in ignorance but it will be tinged with the sum total of their deeds in the area. Stories will be never be truly accurate. Others higher up on the chain will have a more accurate take on them and this will get more accurate as you move up that ladder. Different factions will view them in different ways, right?
The players have an incredible impact in how they are viewed because the choices they've made from levels 10 and up have probably had enormous consequences to alot of people. How the players carry themselves in public has a pretty solid impact as the people of Sandpoint may remember them quite vividly, should they still survive.
However, the players don't have the final say because there's The Powers themselves that see their characters for what they might be able to do, what they may become, how they can either bring balance or destroy everything. these four stalwarts have a few chips in the Game and the stakes go beyond just one mere country...
When I run any scenario in PFS, I always ask for character names & descriptions and I get a visual of the group riding into town or walking into a bar - and it helps me get a decent take on how the party will be viewed.