Raw content of characters.json:
[
    {
        "name": "Stranger",
        "icon": "👤",
        "lp": 1,
        "id": "18d512c4-1302-438d-887f-9fdecdc19a7a"
    }
]

Decoded JSON:
Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [name] => Stranger
            [icon] => 👤
            [lp] => 1
            [id] => 18d512c4-1302-438d-887f-9fdecdc19a7a
        )

)