There's a forge on the second level of the ruins that is guarded by an Adra Animat.  If you sneak up, you can see him working the forge.

anyone figure out if there is any way for you to either use the forge yourself, or convince the animats to use the forge for you?

it just seems like one of those things that might have more to it...

 

 

It has more to it in the context of telling us more about the Engwithans and their technology. It's especially prescient if you opt to help the Crucible Knights (a little bit of history repeating)

That entire dungeon is showing you the process from human to animat, each room breaks down the process...I think he just there to show you what they do with the souls once harvested