James Welch's effortless storytelling style weaves unique Native American language and its meaning into the context effortlessly. A many-faces-man is a healer and medicine man. He has powers to read dreams and see other people's dreams and helps by offering guidance when asked. A lodge is a tipi which moves with the band as they set up camps in different areas for different seasons, while a war lodge is a stationary tipi the Indians use when traveling.