Ah. I intuited from the description that the wards were weakened, but still somewhat intact except for where the horde broke through where it was already weakened (i.e. where we entered or where it was tested earlier), and where the big guy walked right through. With that in mind, the hole in the ward where we entered had undead actively spilling through it. With that mindset, the quickest way out would have been behind Mr. Happy and his Pulsing Sword of Impending Dismemberment.
To be quite honest, I read the description to say that the wards were in process of coming down, and where they were fully down it would be a hard fight to get through, possibly slowing us enough as to allow for our impending evisceration by the above mentioned Mr. Happy.
I am somewhat relieved to get the news that I misinterpreted the description of the wards. I still plan to try and snag the sword in the earth, but prefer now to make Plan B (going out the way we came in, where I am certain the ward is down) the new Plan A. It occurs with the Bracers active, even a little remaining ward is going to smart. The assumption based upon description here that we would be taking electrical damage from ward.