Raw content of characters.json:
[
    {
        "id": "55c7c571-d03a-4eb6-92d5-93f27052cbab",
        "name": "audiotest",
        "lp": 1,
        "icon": "👤"
    }
]

Decoded JSON:
Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [id] => 55c7c571-d03a-4eb6-92d5-93f27052cbab
            [name] => audiotest
            [lp] => 1
            [icon] => 👤
        )

)