Re: OOC
I was also initially surprised when you mentioned using 5e's ruleset. I also first got the game in 4e and I loved the Spider and the Mantis and the overarching plot involving all of them. I wouldn't have expected a setting that used so much of the old setting material to use the new ruleset. Fortunately, I was tied to the story and the clans more than I was tied to the rules, so here I am.
And yeah, I guess my total avoidance of helping that bullied kid and convincing Hiruto not to step up really was totally sidestepping the plot hook, huh? :P Oops.
I had an active plan in mind though, it just involved letting the Mantis kid get beat up first. XD
I think with a more balanced party, like we might’ve had originally, that problem isn’t as pronounced, as usually someone like Sanjiro’s character or Mei's character would’ve taken the charge and roped the rest of us into it. We each get to express our characters and respond to plot hooks stylistically but still go along for the ride.
Similarly, my character might've roped them into plot hooks about gossip and drama like discovering two of the teachers were having a love affair or something.
Not that passivity is not a problem that needs to be addressed by us players. I will definitely RP with more savvy in the interest of a continuing game from now on.
If you’re looking for ideas though, I actually had an idea a long time ago when I thought I had the time to GM games. Now it seems like that will never happen because I’m busy every day of the week, but I still think it was an interesting premise:
A Crab daimyo is holding an annual Wall ‘security council’ event that he’s invited all the clans’ defenders and the Empire’s heroes to attend. (Basically a TED talk)
Although the Crab have always respected this old daimyo, he is getting on in years and he usually just rants about the need for constant vigilance of the incoming Shadowlands threat and maho tsukai/tainted demons among them. The Crab sorta just humor him at this point, as his lands are relatively far away from the actual Wall and the Shadowlands (and they have more pressing investments to make). The rest of the clans, who already think the Crab are too paranoid, usually send inexperienced, misbehaving, or unpopular samurai to attend the seminar out of courtesy. (Excuse as to why it's just noob PCs)
When the PCs arrive, the daimyo is indeed old and cranky and sorta losing it, but there are also subtle signs of corruption in the lands that are supposed to be the most vigilant and vehement about defending against corruption. (Mystery)
The heir to the daimyo and the second son are also causing drama within the household, both eyeing their ailing father's position of power. (Politics)
It's sorta like LotR's Rohan with the king being weak and Saruman's corrupted influence everywhere.
So I came up with this premise because it gives the best of both worlds. It had a courtly aspect, a potential for fun combat, mystery, politics, secrets and plots, and finally, the subject of whether the need to invest more into Shadowlands defense was a good political argument that the various characters could each hold their own opinions and expressions on (disagree with each other about) but would also push them into allying and helping each other when push came to shove (defense of the Empire/common enemy).
Feel free to use it or just hopefully let it inspire you towards a great premise of your own.