So, the Lunar Forge...
Northwest of Whiterun, nestled in the foothills at Silent Moons Camp, is an old forge. In a structure like some of the barrows (I think it’s called a cairn?) with some special weapons and a short journal from the guy leading the bandits there. It supposedly made the special weapons do extra damage at night (though not drain life like the bandit thought) and he couldn’t figure out how to make it work.
That’s literally all we have. No other books in-game, no mentions from NPCs, nothing.
My turn to share some headcanons.
It’s old, possibly as old as the Skyforge, with its uncertain origins. The forge only works at night, and only for someone who is both a smith and enchanter, because they know how to shape the metal and channel the magic.
The phase that Masser is in decides what effect the enchantment will have, and this is set into the metal on the first night of work- if a piece takes days or even weeks, it will have the same enchantment as the dagger done in that same night. Secunda’s influence is in the strength of the enchantment, brighter phases create stronger weapons and darker create stronger armor.
Items made while either moon is totally dark will continue working during the day, as the dark of the moon is present in daylight instead of night. A smart Lunar Smith starts armor at Secunda’s new phase, granting protections and fortifications at all hours.
A soul gem is unneeded, the moonlight and starlight grant the forge its power. After all, moonlight is a reflection of sunlight, and the sun is a gaping hole in the fabric between Mundus and Aetherius. To recharge a weapon, leave it out for a full night under the phase of Masser it was created on.
The list of Masser’s phases and influence: Weapon / Armor
Full - Chaos Damage / Fortify Block Gibbous Waning - Flames / Fire Resist Half Waning - Poison / Poison resist Crescent Waning - Fear / Fortify Health New - Frost / Frost Resist Crescent Waxing - Magicka Drain / Fortify Magicka Half Waxing - Paralyze / Resist Disease Gibbous Waxing - Shock / Shock Resist
